The Pasha’s opinions about his Egyptian subjects are probably best shown by reviewing the rationale behind his educational policies. In spite of the fact that the Pasha is often praised for spreading education, opening one school after the other, sending students to Europe and founding a modern press and the first regular newspaper in the East, he still had strong reservations regarding educating the masses. In a letter to his son, Ibrahim, answering his request to open new schools and to admit more native Egyptians, the Pasha said that he had no intention of spreading education among the masses in Egypt. He told his son to look at what happened to European monarchs when they attempted to educate their poor. He added that he should satisfy himself with educating a limited number of people who could assume key positions in his administration and give up ideas about generalizing education.

DEFINE: The contrast between the Pasha's praised educational expansion and his explicit refusal to educate common Egyptians for fear of emulating European monarchs' troubles with their poor. Builds on: "Muhammad Ali's army briefly extended Egyptian control across the eastern Mediterranean."

Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed…, loc. 1549