The Torch
A deep dive into classical education
Principle 2: Multum non Multa - Much, not Many
If you are new to The Torch, you may not know what these strange Latin phrases are at the top of the newsletters for September and October (and spoiler alert, November!). I have used Latin in the titles of September through November because this year I am writing about the Ten Principles of Classical Education. September’s principle was Festina Lente- make haste slowly, and October’s principle is Multum non Multa- much, not many.
I was first introduced to this concept at my previous experience teaching at an all-boys Jesuit high school in Denver, Colorado. The Jesuits have followed classical education pedagogy since their founding in the 1500s, so I will be ever grateful to them for the foundational skills I needed in the classroom. The Jesuits interpret Multum non Multa as “not many things, but one thing deeply”. As a spiritual order who values reflection and discernment, Multum non Multa is a call to slow down from the myriad activities, worries, thoughts, and obligations of the day. As Mother Teresa put it: “We cannot do great things on this earth; we can only do little things with great love.”
Multum non Multa is the second principle of classical education due to the spiraling nature of our curriculum. Applied to the spiral, Multum non Multa emphasizes mastery of fewer things at real depth rather than the superficial understanding of many things. Students may wonder why they learned about the ancient Greeks in first grade in History, then again in fifth grade in History as well as read Black Ships Before Troy, a simplified version of the Iliad. However, when they reach ninth grade, they (hopefully) realize that they have a firm foundation for tackling the great epic that is the Iliad in their Language Arts class, as well as a deeper understanding of what is happening in the ancient world of the Greek Bronze Age in their History class.
We use Multum non Multa not only with our students, but also in our ongoing teacher training. Early in the year of a first year teacher, they read Dorothy Sayer’s “Lost Tools of Learning”. We discuss it as a group in the middle of the year, and then we have a seminar on it at the end of the year. With students and adults, Multum non Multa can sometimes spark the response of “Again!?!?”. However, as Heraclitus reminds us, we never step in the same river twice. We cannot have the same experience with an essay or an epic poem twice, or even have the same discussion—it is impossible to do so. Multum non Multa allows us to dig deeper into a text, a seminar, a concept, and the present moment.
Finally, if you are a person who is interested in minimalism, Multum non Multa can even help you with cleaning out those closets you have been avoiding for years. Multum non Multa allows us to see that investing in a few quality pieces of clothing, shoes, or cookware is a wiser choice than owning many pieces of fast fashion, ill-fitting footwear, and rarely-used kitchen gadgets that take up space in our homes. Moving past physical things, Multum non Multa is a motto that may be applied to life, meaning neither a long nor a short life, but a life of quality, however long it might be.
May we continue to live a life of quality,
Dr. Missy Johnson
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As a teacher and student of Latin and Greek, the classical model was a natural choice for me as an educator. I hold the teaching of grammar, logic, rhetoric, and virtues in high regard for learners of all ages and backgrounds. Nova Classical’s community model is inspiring, and I hope to bring thoughtfulness and openness to the Great Conversation.