Pillar One: Classics

Classics are original works of depth and substance -- writing, painting, sculpture, philosophy, music, theory, law, etc. -- that engage the student in the great questions of life.

They are works that have wide application and scope. They offer valuable ideas to a variety of cultures and times, and can be applied to nations as well as communities, families and individuals. They are timeless and their themes are universal.

These works change us and ask the hard questions that cut to the core of human nature and human institutions. They challenge us mentally and emotionally, at times lifting and inspiring, at times tearing down and rearranging.

They are works of power that confront the extremes of human nature and invite students to choose between them. Classics are not dry or boring; they are alive and engaging. They should be read, studied, experienced, and created.

Classics can be ancient or contemporary works; what makes them classics is their content, not their age. For example, Plato's Republic is widely considered a classic, as is War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. But so are The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, both of which are by modern writers.

This does not mean that these are necessarily classics for you. Each individual chooses what they keep in their personal library of classics. These are the works that we can read and study time and time again and still draw new lessons from them.

Every true student of the classics eventually becomes a creator of classics, producing works that raise humanity to its highest ideals.

Next Pillar: Mentors