They are few in the midst of an overwhelming mass of brute force, and their submission is wisdom; but for a nation like England to submit to be robbed by any invader who chooses to visit her shores seemed to me to be nonsense.

His attitudes were supported by William Jolly an inspector of schools and noted by Frank Pierrepont Graves in connection with Spencer and T. The actual form of education set up by Combe was later regarded as "transient" though as a propagandist of general educational ideas he was more effective. He initiated a programme of public education about chemistry physiology history and moral philosophy.

George Combe (21 October 1788 – 14 August 1858) was a Scottish lawyer and writer on phrenology and education. In later years he devoted himself to the promotion of phrenology and founded the Edinburgh Phrenological Society in 1820.