The Future of Humanity: a Lecture by Isaac Asimov

1974

Well you know, that may not be so. Let me point out that our youth-centered culture is youth-centered particularly in one important way: education. For years, and centuries, and millennia, it has always been assumed that education is the prerogative of the very young. That there's such a thing as finishing your education.

We teach kids that to be grown up is to be able to be stupid for the rest of your life.

In the 21st century, we're going to have to think of education not as a task to be completed, but as a process to be continued.

I foresee a 21st century in which the educational process will be organized so that every human being has a right to institutional help for education in any field he wishes, in any direction he wishes, at any age he wishes. Education and learning will be the name of the game.