Paulo Freire Quotes

Only in the encounter of the people with the revolutionary leaders—in their communion, in their praxis—can this theory be built.

The behavior of the oppressed is a prescribed behavior, following as it does the guidelines of the oppressor.

They have no consciousness of themselves as persons or as members of an oppressed class.

Unfortunately, what happens to a greater or lesser degree in the various "worlds" into which the world is divided is that the ordinary person is crushed, diminished, converted into a spectator, maneuvered by myths which powerful social forces have created. These myths turn against him; they destroy and annihilate him. Tragically frightened, men fear authentic relationships and even doubt the possibility of their existence.

Reflection upon situationality is reflection about the very condition of existence: critical thinking by means which people discover each other to be 'in a situation.'

Finally, cultural revolution develops the practice of permanent dialogue between leaders and people and consolidates the participation of the people in power.

For people, 'here' signifies not merely a physical space, but also an historical space.

The more educators and the people investigate the people's thinking, and are thus jointly educated, the more they continue to investigate.

Money is the measure of all things, and profit the primary goal. For the oppressors, what is worthwhile is to have more—always more—even at the cost of the oppressed having less or having nothing. For them, to be is to have.

The oppressed find in the oppressors their model of 'manhood.'

It is accomplished by the oppressors depositing myths indispensable to the preservation of the status quo.

Almost never do they realize that they, too, 'know things' they have learned in their relations with the world.

Problem-posing education affirms men and women as beings in the process of becoming.

Individuals who were submerged in reality, merely feeling their needs, emerge from reality and perceive the causes of their needs.

The culture of the dominant class hinders the affirmation of men as beings of decision.