Milton was outspoken in defence of individual liberties, within certain social and religious limits. He believed that even fallen man still retained freedom of will and the power of reason. Sound schooling could produce virtuous social leaders through whom a nation could be regenerated and brought closer to God. Such an education should be by persuasion where possible, coercion where necessary. Milton's contemporaries, the Comenians aimed to make education universal, materially and morally useful, and free of traditional metaphysics and rhetoric. Their scheme tended to favour intellectual conformity. Whilst sharing their dislike of traditional university courses, Milton remained true to the elitist and literary humanist tradition, which he traced back to the Greek Academies. He hoped to teach a broad general knowledge, firm moral principles and the art of rhetoric
