“"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a ___" (old maxim)” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.FIRE is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a ___" (old maxim)”. It was last seen in the puzzle of December 9, 2025, where it runs at 54 Across and fills 4 squares. It crosses 4 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have.