# Quotes about teachers - Quotes: 46 - Authors: 23 - Broader topic: [Quotes about education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education.md) - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.json ## Quotes > No two journeys are ever alike, because no two pupils are ever alike. [Daniel Quinn](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-quinn.md) · [My Ishmael](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-quinn/my-ishmael.md) · p. 44 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-quinn/my-ishmael/no-two-journeys.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > The plants are our oldest teachers. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 213 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/the-plants-are.md) Topics: [nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/nature.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > A teacher comes, they say, when you are ready. And if you ignore its presence, it will speak to you more loudly. But you have to be quiet to hear. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 222 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/a-teacher-comes.md) Topics: [silence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/silence-2.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > The great thing about dead or remote masters is that they can't refuse you as an apprentice. You can learn whatever you want from them. They left their lesson plans in their work. [Austin Kleon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/austin-kleon.md) · [Steal Like an Artist](https://www.leafyquotes.com/austin-kleon/steal-like-an-artist.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/austin-kleon/steal-like-an-artist/the-great-thing.md) Topics: [science](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/science.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > The teacher is the designer of the learning process a choreographer of discovery. [William Coperthwaite](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-coperthwaite.md) · [A Handmade Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-coperthwaite/a-handmade-life.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-coperthwaite/a-handmade-life/the-teacher-is-the.md) Topics: [education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > I have yet to meet an English teacher who assigned a book to damage a kid. [Pat Conroy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy.md) · [The Death of Santini](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/the-death-of-santini.md) · p. 255 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/the-death-of-santini/i-have-yet.md) Topics: [reading](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reading.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > I have read like a man on fire my whole life because the genius of English teachers touched me with the dazzling beauty of language. [Pat Conroy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy.md) · [The Death of Santini](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/the-death-of-santini.md) · p. 257 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/the-death-of-santini/i-have-read.md) Topics: [reading](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reading.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > Teaching remains a heroic act to me, and teachers live a necessary and all-important life. We are killing their spirit with unnecessary pressure and expectation that seem forced and destructive to me. Long ago I was one of them. I still regret I was forced to leave them. My entire body of work is because of men and women like them. [Pat Conroy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy.md) · [The Death of Santini](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/the-death-of-santini.md) · p. 102 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/the-death-of-santini/teaching-remains-a-heroic.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > The great teachers fill you up with hope and shower you with a thousand reasons to embrace all aspects of life. [Pat Conroy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy.md) · [My Losing Season](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/my-losing-season.md) · p. 86 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/my-losing-season/the-great-teachers.md) Topics: [hope](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/hope.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > Bad teachers do not touch me; the great ones never leave me. They ride with me during all my days, and I pass on to others what they have imparted to me. I exchange their handy gifts with strangers on trains, and I pretend the gifts are mine. I steal from the great teachers. And the truly wonderful thing about them is that they would applaud my theft, laugh at the thought of it, realizing that they had taught me their larcenous skills well. [Pat Conroy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy.md) · [The Lords of Discipline](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/the-lords-of-discipline.md) · p. 271 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/the-lords-of-discipline/bad-teachers-do-not.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > Teaching is a record of failures. But the glory of teaching is in the attempt. [Pat Conroy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy.md) · [The Water Is Wide](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/the-water-is-wide.md) · p. 285 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/the-water-is-wide/teaching-is-a-record.md) Topics: [success and failure](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/success-and-failure.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > I developed The Great Teacher theory late in my freshman year. It was a cornerstone of the theory that great teachers had great personalities and that the greatest teachers had outrageous personalities. I did not like decorum or rectitude in a classroom; I preferred a highly oxygenated atmosphere, a climate of intemperance, rhetoric, and feverish melodrama. And I wanted my teachers to make me smart. A great teacher is my adversary, my conqueror, commissioned to chastise me. He leaves me tame and grateful for the new language he has purloined from other kings whose granaries are filled and whose libraries are famous. He tells me that teaching is the art of theft; knowing what to steal and from whom. [Pat Conroy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy.md) · [The Lords of Discipline](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/the-lords-of-discipline.md) · p. 271 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/the-lords-of-discipline/i-developed-the.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > One can do anything, anything at all, I thought, if provided with a passionate and gifted teacher. [Pat Conroy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy.md) · [Beach Music](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/beach-music.md) · p. 536 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/beach-music/one-can-do-anything.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > Rarely will you meet anyone so jealous as a teacher. Year after year students tumble along like the waters of a river. They flow away, and only the teacher is left behind, like some deeply buried rock at the bottom of the current. Although he may tell others of his hopes, he doesn't dream of them himself. He thinks of himself as worthless and either falls into masochistic loneliness or, failing that, ultimately becomes suspicious and pious, forever denouncing the eccentricities of others. He longs so much for freedom and action that he can only hate people. [Kōbō Abe](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kobo-abe.md) · [The Woman in the Dunes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kobo-abe/the-woman-in-the-dunes.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kobo-abe/the-woman-in-the-dunes/rarely-will-you.md) Topics: [jealousy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/jealousy.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > “Uasti was a good teacher,” he said. “She made you look a little way into yourself, see what you could become.” [Tanith Lee](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tanith-lee.md) · [The Birthgrave](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tanith-lee/the-birthgrave.md) · p. 402 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tanith-lee/the-birthgrave/uasti-was-a-good.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > [Written on back of photograph of Ruth and Daniel] > > "Ruth LevinsonThird grade teacher.She believes in me and I can be anything I want when I grow up.I can even change the world." [Nicholas Sparks](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nicholas-sparks.md) · [The Longest Ride](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nicholas-sparks/the-longest-ride.md) · p. 335 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nicholas-sparks/the-longest-ride/written-on-back.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > "...good teachers are priceless. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even when you don't know it." > > "Because they're passionate about their subjects." [Nicholas Sparks](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nicholas-sparks.md) · [Dear John](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nicholas-sparks/dear-john.md) · p. 69 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nicholas-sparks/dear-john/good-teachers-are.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > A true spiritual teacher does not have anything to teach in the conventional sense of the word, does not have anything to give or add to you, such as new information, beliefs, or rules of conduct. The only function of such a teacher is to help you remove that which separates you from the truth of who you already are and what you already know in the depth of your being. [Eckhart Tolle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle.md) · [Stillness Speaks](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/stillness-speaks.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/stillness-speaks/a-true-spiritual.md) Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [spirituality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/spirituality.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > A teacher is frequently the only adult in the pupil's environment who treats him with respect. [Bel Kaufman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman.md) · [Up the Down Staircase](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman/up-the-down-staircase.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman/up-the-down-staircase/a-teacher-is-frequently.md) Topics: [respect](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/respect.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > Teachers try to make us feel lower than themselves, maybe because this is because they feel lower than outside people. One teacher told me to get out of the room and never come back, which I did. [Bel Kaufman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman.md) · [Up the Down Staircase](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman/up-the-down-staircase.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman/up-the-down-staircase/teachers-try-to-make.md) Topics: [education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > Like most chairmen, he teaches only one class of Seniors; the most experienced teachers are frequently promoted right out of the classroom! [Bel Kaufman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman.md) · [Up the Down Staircase](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman/up-the-down-staircase.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bel-kaufman/up-the-down-staircase/like-most-chairmen.md) Topics: [education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education.md), [irony](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/irony.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > A teacher's major contribution may pop out anonymously in the life of some ex-student's grandchild. A teacher, finally, has nothing to go on but faith, a student nothing to offer in return but testimony. [Wendell Berry](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry.md) · [What Are People For?](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry/what-are-people-for.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry/what-are-people-for/a-teachers-major.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > Learning is finding out what you already know. Doing is demonstrating that you know it. Teaching is reminding others that they know just as well as you. You are all learners, doers, and teachers. [Richard Bach](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-bach.md) · [Illusions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-bach/illusions.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-bach/illusions/learning-is-finding.md) Topics: [knowledge](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/knowledge.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > You teach best what you most need to learn. [Richard Bach](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-bach.md) · [Illusions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-bach/illusions.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-bach/illusions/you-teach-best.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > To teach is to learn twice over. [Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert.md) · [The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert/to-teach-is-to-learn.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > A good teacher offers practice, a bad one offers theories. [Anthony De Mello](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-de-mello.md) · [One Minute Wisdom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-de-mello/one-minute-wisdom.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-de-mello/one-minute-wisdom/a-good-teacher.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > "You are only a disciple because your eyes are closed. The day you open them you will see there is nothing you can learn from me or anyone." > > "What then is a Master for?" > > "To make you see the uselessness of having one." [Anthony De Mello](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-de-mello.md) · [One Minute Wisdom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-de-mello/one-minute-wisdom.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-de-mello/one-minute-wisdom/you-are-only.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > A zealous disciple expressed a desire to teach others the Truth and asked the Master what he thought about this. The Master said, "Wait." > > Each year the disciple would return with the same request and each time the Master would give him the same reply: "Wait." > > One day he said to the Master, "When will I be ready to teach?" > > Said the Master, "When your excessive eagerness to teach has left you." [Anthony De Mello](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-de-mello.md) · [One Minute Wisdom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-de-mello/one-minute-wisdom.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/anthony-de-mello/one-minute-wisdom/a-zealous-disciple.md) Topics: [patience](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/patience.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > It is always the teacher who must learn the most … or else nothing real has happened in the exchange. [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kim-stanley-robinson.md) · [The Years of Rice and Salt](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kim-stanley-robinson/the-years-of-rice-and-salt.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kim-stanley-robinson/the-years-of-rice-and-salt/it-is-always.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > We are simultaneously supposed to gasp in awe at teachers' raw dedication and be forced to listen to their incessant caterwauling about how they don't make enough money. Well, which is it? Are they dedicated to teaching tomorrow's future or are they in it for the money? After all the carping about how little teachers are paid, if someone enters the teaching profession for the big bucks, aren't they too stupid to be teaching our kids? [Ann Coulter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-coulter.md) · [Godless](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-coulter/godless.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-coulter/godless/we-are-simultaneously.md) Topics: [money](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/money.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > Important rule of professorcraft: never show resentment at a student insult — wait and get them later. [Robertson Davies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies.md) · [The Cornish Trilogy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies/the-cornish-trilogy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies/the-cornish-trilogy/important-rule-of-professorcraft.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [revenge](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/revenge.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > Because real teaching demands energy as well. To instruct calls for energy, and to remain almost silent, but watchful and helpful, while students instruct themselves, calls for even greater energy. To see someone fall … when a word from you would keep him on his feet but ignorant of an important danger, is one of the tasks of the teacher that calls for special energy, because holding in is more demanding than crying out. [Robertson Davies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies.md) · [The Cornish Trilogy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies/the-cornish-trilogy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robertson-davies/the-cornish-trilogy/because-real-teaching.md) Topics: [education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > We all choose our own teachers, don't we? I wonder if our choice of teacher shows anything about what our lives will be. [Orson Scott Card](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card.md) · [Earthborn](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card/earthborn.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card/earthborn/we-all-choose.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > His misfortune was that he loved youth — he was weak to it, it kindled him. If there was one eager eye, one doubting, critical mind, one lively curiosity in a whole lecture-room full of commonplace boys and girls, he was its servant. That ardour could command him. It hadn't worn out with years, this responsiveness, any more than the magnetic currents wear out; it had nothing to do with Time. [Willa Cather](https://www.leafyquotes.com/willa-cather.md) · [The Professor's House](https://www.leafyquotes.com/willa-cather/the-professors-house.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/willa-cather/the-professors-house/his-misfortune-was.md) Topics: [youth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/youth.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > ...because academics everywhere are forever attacking one another, and I had long since learned that one must never believe what a teacher says of another. [Gore Vidal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gore-vidal.md) · [Julian](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gore-vidal/julian.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gore-vidal/julian/because-academics-everywhere.md) Topics: [gossip](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/gossip.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > Something has changed, and now, when I look at my students, I see only people who are going to eat up my time. [David Sedaris](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris.md) · [Theft by Finding](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris/theft-by-finding.md) · p. 201 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris/theft-by-finding/something-has-changed.md) Topics: [time](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/time.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > Adrienne started teaching a few months ago in Denver and wrote that it leaves you with a constant feeling of deceiving people. That you know nothing they don't, or couldn't learn on their own if they cared to. [David Sedaris](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris.md) · [Theft by Finding](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris/theft-by-finding.md) · p. 181 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris/theft-by-finding/adrienne-started-teaching.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > Suppose we are studying the course of the sun and the way to find our bearings, when all at once Emile interrupts me with the question, "What is the use of that?" what a fine lecture I might give, how many things I might take occasion to teach him in reply to his question, especially if there is any one there. I might speak of the advantages of travel, the value of commerce, the special products of different lands and the peculiar customs of different nations, the use of the calendar, the way to reckon the seasons for agriculture, the art of navigation, how to steer our course at sea, how to find our way without knowing exactly where we are. Politics, natural history, astronomy, even morals and international law are involved in my explanation, so as to give my pupil some idea of all these sciences and a great wish to learn them. When I have finished I shall have shown myself a regular pedant, I shall have made a great display of learning, and not one single idea has he understood. He is longing to ask me again, "What is the use of taking one's bearings?" but he dare not for fear of vexing me. He finds it pays best to pretend to listen to what he is forced to hear. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/suppose-we-are.md) Topics: [education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > We cannot teach children the danger of telling lies to men without realising, on the man's part, the danger of telling lies to children. A single untruth on the part of the master will destroy the results of his education. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/we-cannot-teach.md) Topics: [lies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/lies.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > When Emile learns his trade I shall learn it too. I am convinced he will never learn anything thoroughly unless we learn it together. So we shall both serve our apprenticeship, and we do not mean to be treated as gentlemen, but as real apprentices who are not there for fun; why should not we actually be apprenticed? Peter the Great was a ship's carpenter and drummer to his own troops; was not that prince at least your equal in birth and merit? You understand this is addressed not to Emile but to you—to you, whoever you may be. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/when-emile-learns.md) Topics: [work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/work.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > Young teacher, I am setting before you a difficult task, the art of controlling without precepts, and doing everything without doing anything at all. This art is, I confess, beyond your years, it is not calculated to display your talents nor to make your value known to your scholar's parents; but it is the only road to success. You will never succeed in making wise men if you do not first make little imps of mischief. This was the education of the Spartans; they were not taught to stick to their books, they were set to steal their dinners. Were they any the worse for it in after life? Ever ready for victory, they crushed their foes in every kind of warfare, and the prating Athenians were as much afraid of their words as of their blows. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/young-teacher-i-am-setting.md) Topics: [upbringing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/upbringing.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > The child is usually much quicker to read the master's thoughts than the master to read the child's feelings. And that is as it should be, for all the sagacity which the child would have devoted to self-preservation, had he been left to himself, is now devoted to the rescue of his native freedom from the chains of his tyrant; while the latter, who has no such pressing need to understand the child, sometimes finds that it pays him better to leave him in idleness or vanity. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/the-child-is-usually.md) Topics: [children](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/children.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > Young teacher, pray consider this example, and remember that your lessons should always be in deeds rather than words, for children soon forget what they say or what is said to them, but not what they have done nor what has been done to them. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/young-teacher-pray.md) Topics: [taking action](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/taking-action.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > It is one thing to follow a young man about for four years, another to be his guide for five-and-twenty. You find a tutor for your son when he is already formed; I want one for him before he is born. Your man may change his pupil every five years; mine will never have but one pupil. You distinguish between the teacher and the tutor. Another piece of folly! Do you make any distinction between the pupil and the scholar? There is only one science for children to learn—the duties of man. This science is one, and, whatever Xenophon may say of the education of the Persians, it is indivisible. Besides, I prefer to call the man who has this knowledge master rather than teacher, since it is a question of guidance rather than instruction. He must not give precepts, he must let the scholar find them out for himself. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/it-is-one.md) Topics: [education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md) > There are callings so great that they cannot be undertaken for money without showing our unfitness for them; such callings are those of the soldier and the teacher. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/there-are-callings.md) Topics: [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md), [soldiers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/soldiers.md), [vocation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/vocation.md) > A teacher who can arouse a feeling for one single good action, for one single good poem, accomplishes more than he who fills our memory with rows on rows of natural objects, classified with name and form. [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe.md) · [Elective Affinities](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/elective-affinities.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/elective-affinities/a-teacher-who.md) Topics: [education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education.md), [teachers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/teachers.md)