We know nothing of childhood; and with our mistaken notions the further we advance the further we go astray.  The wisest writers devote themselves to what a man ought to know, without asking what a child is capable of learning.  They are always looking for the man in the child, without considering what he is before he becomes a man.  It is to this study that I have chiefly devoted myself, so that if my method is fanciful and unsound, my observations may still be of service.  I may be greatly mistaken as to what ought to be done, but I think I have clearly perceived the material which is to be worked upon.  Begin thus by making a more careful study of your scholars, for it is clear that you know nothing about them; yet if you read this book with that end in view, I think you will find that it is not entirely useless.

With regard to what will be called the systematic portion of the book, which is nothing more than the course of nature, it is here that the reader will probably go wrong, and no doubt I shall be attacked on this side, and perhaps my critics may be right.  You will tell me, “This is not so much a treatise on education as the visions of a dreamer with regard to education.”  What can I do?  I have not written about other people’s ideas of education, but about my own.  My thoughts are not those of others; this reproach has been brought against me again and again.  But is it within my power to furnish myself with other eyes, or to adopt other ideas?  It is within my power to refuse to be wedded to my own opinions and to refuse to think myself wiser than others.  I cannot change my mind; I can distrust myself.  This is all I can do, and this I have done.  If I sometimes adopt a confident tone, it is not to impress the reader, it is to make my meaning plain to him.  Why should I profess to suggest as doubtful that which is not a matter of doubt to myself?  I say just what I think.

When I freely express my opinion, I have so little idea of claiming authority that I always give my reasons, so that you may weigh and judge them for yourselves; but though I would not obstinately defend my ideas, I think it my duty to put them forward; for the principles with regard to which I differ from other writers are not matters of indifference; we must know whether they are true or false, for on them depends the happiness or the misery of mankind.  People are always telling me to make practicable suggestions.  You might as well tell me to suggest what people are doing already, or at least to suggest improvements which may be incorporated with the wrong methods at present in use.  There are matters with regard to which such a suggestion is far more chimerical than my own, for in such a connection the good is corrupted and the bad is none the better for it.  I would rather follow exactly the established method than adopt a better method by halves.  There would be fewer contradictions in the man; he cannot aim at one and the same time at two different objects.  Fathers and mothers, what you desire that you can do.  May I count on your goodwill?