Education is not Sufficient

Education only is not sufficient to make men virtuous; neither intellectual nor moral philosophy is enough for it. I never knew any persons become virtuous by studying the philosophy of Plato or books of Confucius. But on the other hand there is a power in the Christian religion to make men free, vigorous, and virtuous. If a man loves virtue he indeed is a true man and does know how to take care of himself. If each Japanese knows how to take care of himself, the government shall not need setting detectives here and there throughout the country. If the whole nation loves truth and virtue they will govern themselves, nor give or cause much trouble to the government. The strength of a nation is the strength of their virtue and piety. Some people make use of the Christian religion as a mere instrumentality, but if so his religion is not a true one. There is truth in the Christian religion. We ought to take truth because it is truth, and not as a mere instrumentality.

— Joseph Hardy Neesima (12 February 1843 – 23 January 1890, Japanese missionary and educator of the Meiji era who founded Doshisha English School).