True literacy is becoming an arcane art, and the nation is steadily "dumbing down."
Interpretation
True literacy is increasingly rare and diminishing in society, leading to a decline in critical thinking and understanding.
Isaac Asimov's quote highlights the concerning decline in genuine literacy and critical thinking skills within society. He suggests that as literacy becomes an 'arcane art,' it implies that true understanding is fading away, and this loss negatively impacts the intellectual capabilities of the nation as it risks becoming less informed or 'dumbed down.'
In practice
In a speech about the importance of reading in schools, one could say, 'As Asimov pointed out, true literacy is becoming an arcane art.'
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it. As you put more and more people into the world, the value of life not only declines, but it disappears. It doesn't matter if someone dies.
Science does not promise absolute truth, nor does it consider that such a thing necessarily exists. Science does not even promise that everything in the Universe is amenable to the scientific process.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation.
Although the time of death is approaching me, I am not afraid of dying and going to Hell or (what would be considerably worse) going to the popularized version of Heaven. I expect death to be nothingness and, for removing me from all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism.
A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value.
During the century after Newton, it was still possible for a man of unusual attainments to master all fields of scientific knowledge. But by 1800, this had become entirely impracticable.
Place the lives of children in their formative years, despite the convictions of their parents, under the intimate control of experts appointed by the state, force them to attend schools where the higher aspirations of humanity are crushed out, and where the mind is filled with the materialism of the day, and it is difficult to see how even the remnants of liberty can subsist.
In times of change, learners inherit the earth
Youth Ministry, as traditionally organized, has also suffered the impact of social changes. Young people often fail to find responses to their concerns, needs, problems and hurts in the usual structures. As adults, we find it hard to listen patiently to them, to appreciate their concerns, demands, and to speak to them in a language they can understand.
A top-quartile teacher will increase the performance of their class - based on test scores - by over 10 percent in a single year. ... That means that if the entire U.S., for two years, had top-quartile teachers, the entire difference between us and Asia would go away.
When someone says to me, 'I love your book - I read it in a day,' I want to tell them to go back and read it again.
My favorite subject was recess. Fortunately for me, I had a mother who believed I was smart.
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