It is difficult to think of anything more important than

Hear the words of Sam Harris, spoken with gravity and foresight: “It is difficult to think of anything more important than providing the best education possible for our children. They will develop the next technologies, medical cures, and global industries, while mitigating their unintended effects, or they will fail to do these things and consign us all to oblivion.” These words strike like a bell at dawn, awakening us to the weight of our responsibility. For they remind us that the fate of tomorrow is not forged in battlefields or parliaments alone, but in the classrooms where the minds of children are shaped.

The meaning is vast. Education is not merely the transmission of facts, but the cultivation of vision, wisdom, and responsibility. Children, given the right tools, will bring forth technologies, discover medical cures, and build industries that reshape the world. But Harris warns that these gifts carry shadows—unintended effects, unforeseen dangers. If the minds of the young are not sharpened not only with knowledge but with discernment, they may unleash harm as great as the good they intend. Thus, the survival of our species rests upon the education we provide.

History bears witness to this truth. When the world was struck by the Industrial Revolution, humanity gained immense power over nature. Machines roared, factories rose, and progress surged. But with progress came smoke-filled skies, child labor, and social upheaval. It was not enough to invent; wisdom was required to mitigate the effects of invention. So too in the 20th century, when the discovery of nuclear power promised limitless energy, but also brought forth the bomb that leveled cities. These examples remind us that Harris speaks rightly: without wisdom alongside knowledge, our triumphs can turn into our destruction.

Consider the story of Jonas Salk, who created the first successful polio vaccine. His work was the fruit of both education and compassion. When asked who owned the patent, Salk replied, “Well, the people, I would say. There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?” Here was a man whose education was not only technical, but moral. His knowledge brought healing without greed, saving millions of lives. This is the kind of education Harris longs for: not only training of the intellect, but shaping of the conscience.

The origin of Harris’s quote lies in his broader concern for humanity’s survival in an age of exponential change. He sees that the next generations will wield powers undreamt of by their ancestors—artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, climate interventions. These tools could save us, or they could destroy us. The balance will depend not on chance, but on the quality of the education we provide to those who will wield such tools. To fail in this task, he warns, is to consign ourselves to oblivion.

The lesson, child of tomorrow, is this: invest in the minds of the young, for they are the architects of the future. Build schools not of rote memorization but of wisdom, creativity, and moral clarity. Teach children not only to solve problems, but to foresee consequences. Let them learn the art of questioning, the responsibility of invention, and the humility to recognize their limits. For if they rise wise, we shall flourish. But if they rise ignorant, our civilization will collapse under the weight of its own powers.

To live by this wisdom, do not leave education to others alone. Take part in it. Support teachers, nurture curiosity in your children, mentor those who seek guidance. Respect knowledge wherever it is found, and spread it generously. And in your own life, live as an example of what true education creates: a mind both sharp and compassionate, a heart both ambitious and humble.

Thus the words of Sam Harris endure: “They will develop the next technologies… or they will fail and consign us all to oblivion.” Let them echo in your soul as both warning and inspiration. For in the hands of the young lies the destiny of the world, and in the choices of the present lies the shaping of those hands. May you be among those who build a foundation of wisdom so strong that future generations may stand upon it and reach the stars.