Into the soul of every student I would have instilled the

“Into the soul of every student I would have instilled the patriotic fervor of Patrick Henry.” Thus spoke David O. McKay, the teacher and prophet, whose heart burned with the vision of raising up a generation of men and women strong in spirit and devoted to their homeland. In this saying, he does not merely wish for knowledge to be passed into the minds of students, but for patriotic fervor—the fiery love of freedom, justice, and loyalty to one’s country—to be poured into their very souls. For McKay knew that wisdom without devotion is barren, and skill without principle is dangerous.

The meaning of this saying is profound. McKay invokes the name of Patrick Henry, the American patriot whose words, “Give me liberty, or give me death!” still thunder across the ages. Henry’s spirit was not lukewarm; it was fierce, unyielding, and ablaze with the conviction that freedom is more precious than life itself. To McKay, this passion was not to be reserved for a select few or confined to history books. It was to be instilled in every student, for only when the rising generation is inflamed with devotion can the nation endure against corruption, apathy, and tyranny.

The origin of this vision rests in the struggles of nations and civilizations across time. Patrick Henry’s cry came in 1775, when America stood at the threshold of revolution. The chains of empire tightened, and many hesitated between submission and resistance. It was Henry’s words, spoken in fiery assembly, that stirred the hearts of colonists to act. His patriotic fervor was not only rhetoric—it was a spark that lit the fire of independence. McKay, centuries later, longed for that same fire to burn in the hearts of students, lest comfort or complacency weaken their loyalty to truth and liberty.

History bears witness to the danger of generations raised without such passion. In times of prosperity, when freedoms seem secure, the young often grow indifferent. They inherit liberty without knowing its price, and in their indifference, they allow it to be chipped away. Consider Rome, which fell not in its days of struggle, but in its days of ease. The people forgot the sacrifices of their ancestors and gave themselves to indulgence. Without the flame of patriotic fervor, civilization decayed. McKay’s warning speaks directly to this danger.

Yet history also shows the power of fervent youth. In World War II, when tyranny rose again, millions of young men and women rallied to defend their nations. Many were students only months before they became soldiers, pilots, and nurses. Their devotion was not cold calculation, but a fire born of love for home and freedom. They prove that when the spirit of Patrick Henry is alive in the young, no storm, however dark, can overcome them.

The lesson is clear: education must go beyond knowledge of facts and skills. It must awaken the heart. Schools must not only train minds, but also inspire loyalty, gratitude, and courage. For a nation is not preserved by scholars alone, but by patriots who love her enough to sacrifice for her. Parents, teachers, and leaders alike must plant in the hearts of the young the conviction that liberty is sacred and worth defending at all costs.

Practically, this means teaching history not as dry dates but as living fire. Tell the stories of sacrifice, of struggle, of heroes like Patrick Henry, who gave voice to liberty when silence meant slavery. Inspire children not only to excel in work but to serve their communities, honor their country, and uphold the values of freedom and justice. Let them see that patriotic fervor is not hatred of others, but love of what is noble and true within their own land.

So let McKay’s words echo as a commandment to all generations: instill the patriotic fervor of Patrick Henry into every student. For knowledge without devotion leads to decay, but devotion joined with knowledge builds nations that endure. If this fire burns in the souls of the young, then liberty will never perish, and civilization will stand strong against all who would seek its ruin.