The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn.

The sentence distinguishes between education as mere delivery of lessons and education as the formation of a learner. Lubbock argues that the decisive outcome is not simply that children receive teaching, but that they acquire an inner desire to know—curiosity, initiative, and pleasure in understanding. If that desire is present, learning can continue beyond school and beyond any particular teacher; without it, even extensive instruction may leave little lasting growth. The quote thus elevates intrinsic motivation over external compulsion and implies that the best educational methods are those that kindle interest, encourage questions, and make learning feel purposeful rather than purely obligatory.