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Paulo Freire

What Paulo Freire thinks about agency

@paulo-freire · 23 positions · 0 changes of mind

Brazilian educator and philosopher (1921 to 1997), a founder of critical pedagogy, best known for Pedagogy of the Oppressed, which treats teaching as a political act of liberation.

Everything they publish, on ppll ↗

Paulo Freire did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

12 dated positions, c. 1968, in their own words. Our reading of what Paulo Freire has said — not written or endorsed by them.

  1. Our readingOnly power that springs from the weakness of the oppressed will be strong enough to free both oppressed and oppressors

    Their wordsOnly power that springs from the weakness of the oppressed will be sufficiently strong to free both.

    ↗Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Bloomsbury, 2014 edition; tr. Myra Bergman Ramos)books.google.com All 23 from this book

  3. Our readingThe great humanistic and historical task of the oppressed is to liberate themselves and their oppressors as well

    Their wordsThis, then, is the great humanistic and historical task of the oppressed: to liberate themselves and their oppressors as well.

    ↗Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Bloomsbury, 2014 edition; tr. Myra Bergman Ramos)books.google.com All 23 from this book

  5. Our readingTrue generosity consists in fighting to destroy the causes that nourish false charity

    Their wordsTrue generosity consists precisely in fighting to destroy the causes which nourish false charity.

    ↗Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Bloomsbury, 2014 edition; tr. Myra Bergman Ramos)books.google.com All 23 from this book

  7. Our readingHaving internalized the oppressor's image, the oppressed fear freedom, which would demand autonomy and responsibility instead

    Their wordsThe oppressed, having internalized the image of the oppressor and adopted his guidelines, are fearful of freedom. Freedom would require them to eject this image and replace it with autonomy and responsibility.

    ↗Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Bloomsbury, 2014 edition; tr. Myra Bergman Ramos)books.google.com All 23 from this book

  9. Our readingFreedom is acquired by conquest, not received as a gift, and must be pursued constantly and responsibly

    Their wordsFreedom is acquired by conquest, not by gift. It must be pursued constantly and responsibly.

    ↗Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Bloomsbury, 2014 edition; tr. Myra Bergman Ramos)books.google.com All 23 from this book

  11. Our readingNever in history has violence been initiated by the oppressed, since they are themselves the result of violence

    Their wordsNever in history has violence been initiated by the oppressed. How could they be the initiators, if they themselves are the result of violence?

    ↗Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Bloomsbury, 2014 edition; tr. Myra Bergman Ramos)books.google.com All 23 from this book

  13. Our readingThe rebellion of the oppressed, always or nearly always as violent as the oppressors' initial violence, can initiate love

    Their wordsConsciously or unconsciously, the act of rebellion by the oppressed (an act which is always, or nearly always, as violent as the initial violence of the oppressors) can initiate love.

    ↗Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Bloomsbury, 2014 edition; tr. Myra Bergman Ramos)books.google.com All 23 from this book

  15. Our readingFinding the oppressor out must involve action and serious reflection, neither purely intellectual nor mere activism, to be praxis

    Their wordsThis discovery cannot be purely intellectual but must involve action; nor can it be limited to mere activism, but must include serious reflection: only then will it be a praxis.

    ↗Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Bloomsbury, 2014 edition; tr. Myra Bergman Ramos)books.google.com All 23 from this book

  17. Our readingApart from inquiry and praxis, individuals cannot be truly human

    Their wordsFor apart from inquiry, apart from the praxis, individuals cannot be truly human.

    ↗Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Bloomsbury, 2014 edition; tr. Myra Bergman Ramos)books.google.com All 23 from this book

  19. Our readingLiberation is a praxis: the action and reflection of people upon their world in order to transform it

    Their wordsLiberation is a praxis: the action and reflection of men and women upon their world in order to transform it.

    ↗Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Bloomsbury, 2014 edition; tr. Myra Bergman Ramos)books.google.com All 23 from this book

  21. Our readingTo exist humanly is to name the world and to change it

    Their wordsTo exist, humanly, is to name the world, to change it.

    ↗Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Bloomsbury, 2014 edition; tr. Myra Bergman Ramos)books.google.com All 23 from this book

  23. Our readingLeaders who impose their decisions instead of acting dialogically do not organize the people but manipulate them

    Their wordsLeaders who do not act dialogically, but insist on imposing their decisions, do not organize the people - they manipulate them.

    ↗Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Bloomsbury, 2014 edition; tr. Myra Bergman Ramos)books.google.com All 23 from this book