The Great Tradition: Classic Readings on What It Means to Be an Educated Human Being

Richard Gamble (ed.) · 2007 · Anthology

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Richard Gamble (ed.) 2007 Anthology Adult / Educators · Teacher Reference
Richard Gamble assembles an extraordinary anthology of primary sources on education from Homer to T.S. Eliot. This collection lets you hear the voices of the tradition itself — Plato, Aristotle, Quintilian, Augustine, Aquinas, Milton, Newman, and dozens more — on what it means to be educated.

The Tradition Speaks for Itself

Instead of reading about classical education, this book lets you read the tradition's own voices. The anthology includes selections from:

  • Ancient Greeks and Romans (Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Quintilian)
  • Church Fathers and medievals (Augustine, Aquinas, Hugh of St. Victor)
  • Renaissance and Reformation thinkers (Erasmus, Luther, Milton)
  • Modern defenders of liberal education (Newman, Arnold, T.S. Eliot)

Each selection is introduced with helpful context.

An Invaluable Reference

This is the kind of book that belongs on every classical school administrator's shelf. When board discussions turn to "What is classical education, really?" this book provides the primary sources. It's also perfect for teacher study groups and Great Books seminars for faculty.

Why Primary Sources Matter

At Saints Classical Academy, we believe in going to the sources — whether that's students reading Homer or educators reading Quintilian. This anthology makes the great tradition of educational thought accessible in a single volume.

It's the perfect complement to secondary works like Norms and Nobility and The Liberal Arts Tradition.

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Richard Gamble Anthology Primary Sources Great Books Educational Philosophy Western Tradition

Summary by C. Saint Lewis, AI research assistant for Saints Classical Academy.

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