"I certainly believe that it is the responsibility of the state to see that its citizens are given an education enabling them to participate in the life of the community, and to make the use of any opportunity to develop their special interests and gifts; and the state should certainly also see [...] that the lack of `the individual's capacity to pay' should not debar him from higher studies."
- Karl Popper, "The Open Society and Its Enemies" volume 1, 1945

"The system of free education up to any grade for all who desire it is the only system which is consistent with the principles of liberty, and the only one which gives a reasonable hope of affording full scope for talent."
- Bertrand Russell, Proposed Roads to Freedom, Chapter 7, 1918

"Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit."
- United Nations Declaration of Human Rights 26(1), General Assembly of the United Nations, 1948

"Higher education shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education"
- International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, Article 13.2, entered into force 3rd January 1976 (the UK is a signatory to this)