A great educator Vasily Sukhomlinsky thought the early childhood years were critical for the formation of character, and in establishing attitudes to learning. 
He said that the most precious thing in life is a human being, and that there is no greater honour than to bring joy to other people. He taught them that to bring joy to other people, and especially to their families, they should strive to create beauty in themselves and in the environment. 
     Another aspect of being truly human was the development of the intellect, so that the horizons of the mind grew ever wider, gradually encompassing the whole world and reaching into the depths of space. Sukhomlinsky could not agree with those who sought to give education a purely utilitarian focus, who thought that knowledge was worthwhile only if it found direct application in the work place. For him the study of foreign languages and of astronomy were essential in order for a person to appreciate the world of which they were a part, and to broaden their minds. 
     Sukhomlinsky’s holistic educational philosophy rested on five pillars: health education, moral education, aesthetic education, intellectual education and work education.