At a party last night I was introduced to someone as really knowing my way round a computer, whereupon she eagerly asked how I would set about finding the derivation of a quotation. I couldn't answer her question on the spot, but said I would try to find it for her and this site looks a really good resource. So, here goes. Does anyone know the reference for this quotation "the fatal pedagogical error is to throw answers like stones at the heads of those who have not yet asked the questions". It is attributed to Paul Tillich but I have been unable to track any reference as to the source. Please can anyone help? With thanks

It's definitely Tillich but it may be from a lecture or otherwise unrecorded commentary. Google brings up several books and quasi-academic works that apparently had trouble finding a reference.

Pickyune

No luck finding a source – only this sort of thing;

The fatal pedagogical error [is] to throw answers, like stones, at the heads of those who have not yet asked the questions
~(Paul Tillich, 1886-1965, as quoted by Julian Weissglass on page 59 of Exploring Elementary Mathematics, 1979, W.H.Freeman & Co.)
http://www.esu.edu/psed/psed346/


Here is a link to the North American Paul Tillich Society – perhaps they would help? Also some on-line copies of his works there;

http://www.napts.org/

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