Even so, Saramago’s line doesn’t have to be read as contempt for teaching. Explanations often work—especially when they include examples, guided practice, and checks for understanding. Modern learning science supports this: people benefit when new information is anchored to prior knowledge and applied through retrieval and problem-solving, not just heard once.
The deeper takeaway, then, is about timing and readiness. Explanations are powerful when they meet a mind prepared to integrate them; otherwise, they may bounce off. The responsibility is shared: the explainer must build bridges, and the learner must cultivate the internal structures that let an explanation become understanding. [...]
