It's queer how ready people always are with advice in any real or imaginary emergency, and no matter how many times experience has shown them to be wrong, they continue to set forth their opinions, as if they had received them from the Almighty!

In this quote, Anne Sullivan reflects on the tendency of people to offer advice, especially in times of emergency or crisis, whether the situation is real or imagined. She points out the irony that despite many past instances where people's advice has proven to be wrong, they continue to present their opinions as though they have received them from a higher, unquestionable source. Sullivan’s words reveal her frustration with how some individuals remain convinced of their own wisdom, even when their past guidance has failed.

Sullivan also touches on the concept of authority and how people often assume their advice is infallible, treating it as if it were handed down by a higher power. The quote critiques how self-assured individuals can be in giving advice, showing that confidence is sometimes mistaken for truth, even when it lacks practical foundation. This reflects her recognition of the hubris that can accompany unsolicited advice, especially when it disregards actual experience or the complex realities of a situation.

The origin of the quote comes from Anne Sullivan’s experience as the teacher and lifelong companion of Helen Keller, whose struggles with blindness and deafness were widely known. Sullivan’s own role as a teacher required great patience, deep understanding, and an appreciation for individual learning processes, making her particularly sensitive to the value of experience over untested opinions. Her insight into people’s habitual tendency to offer advice based on assumptions rather than evidence reflects her practical approach to education and problem-solving.

Ultimately, Sullivan’s quote serves as a reminder of the limitations of unverified advice and the importance of learning from experience rather than relying on well-meaning but ultimately misguided opinions. It emphasizes the need for humility and the awareness that not all advice, no matter how confidently given, is necessarily correct or helpful.