If you want reality to be different than what it is, you might as well try to teach a cat to bark.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
We cannot teach people anything; we can only help them discover it within themselves.
—Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) Italian Astronomer, Physicist, Mathematician
My experience is that the teachers we need most are the people we’re living with right now.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day.
If you teach a man how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.
—Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919) English Novelist, Biographer
I have come to believe that there are only two kinds of experiences in life: those that stem from our Higher Self and those that have something to teach us. We recognize the first as pure joy and the latter as struggle. But they are both perfect. Each time we confront some intense difficulty, we know there is something we haven’t learned yet, and the universe is now giving us the opportunity to learn.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
The West of which I speak is but another name for the Wild, and what I have been preparing to say is, that in Wildness is the preservation of the World.
This curious world we inhabit is more wonderful than convenient; more beautiful than useful; it is more to be admired and enjoyed than used.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
One of the principles we teach in our programs is “If you shoot for the stars, you’ll at least hit the moon”. Poor people don’t even shoot for the ceiling in their house, and then they wonder why they’re not successful.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
A teacher can only lead you to the threshold of your own mind.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
Aloneness is a wise teacher. Kierkegaard remarked that one sign of spiritual maturity was the ability to be comfortable when alone.
—Vernon Howard (1918–92) American Spiritual Teacher, Philosopher
How much longer are you going to be a pupil? From now on do some teaching as well.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
—Chinese Proverb
In our course we teach that “no thought lives in your head rent-free”. Each thought you have will either be an investment or a cost. It will either move you toward happiness and success or away from it. It will either empower you or disempower you. That’s why it is imperative you choose your thoughts and beliefs wisely.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
You might believe that it’s only for their own good, but how does it feel when you try to manipulate the people you love? Are you teaching them that your love is conditional? Maybe through inquiry we can find another way.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
When the remedy you have offered only increases the disease, then leave him who will not be cured, and tell your story to someone who seeks the truth.
—Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207–73) Persian Muslim Mystic
If you would thoroughly know anything, teach it to others.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
All of life’s experiences are teachers in some sense, challenging us to grow and evolve. Although the Persecutor certainly provokes a reaction, the Challenger elicits a response by encouraging the Creator to acquire new knowledge, skill, or insight. Both roles provoke change, but in different ways.
—David Emerald
You are goodness and mercy and compassion and understanding. You are peace and joy and light. You are forgiveness and patience, strength and courage, a helper in time of need, a comforter in time of sorrow, a healer in time of injury, a teacher in times of confusion. You are the deepest wisdom and the highest truth; the greatest peace and the grandest love. You are these things. And in moments of your life you have known yourself to be these things. Choose now to know yourself as these things always.
—Neale Donald Walsch (b.1943) American Spiritual Writer
Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater.
—Gail Godwin (b.1937) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Four thousand volumes of metaphysics will not teach us what the soul is.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Regard a king as someone unconcerned with kingship.
—Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207–73) Persian Muslim Mystic
The teaching of Jesus, if properly understood, would do away with organized temple worship altogether.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
A teacher of fear can’t bring peace on earth. We have been trying to do it that way for thousands of years. The person who turns inner violence around, the person who finds peace inside and lives it, is the one who teaches what true peace is. We are waiting for just one teacher. You’re the one.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
Don’t try to be unafraid. That is impossible. Rather, go ahead while being afraid. That is the entire secret for abolishing fear. The Supermind teaches us to have no self-concern at all. Whatever happens to you, act as though it happened to someone else.
—Vernon Howard (1918–92) American Spiritual Teacher, Philosopher
The world needs demonstration more than it needs teaching.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
Fear is an instructor of great sagacity and the herald of revolutions. One thing he teaches, that there is rottenness where he appears.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Why do they always teach us that it’s easy and evil to do what we want and that we need discipline to restrain ourselves? It’s the hardest thing in the world—to do what we want. And it takes the greatest kind of courage. I mean, what we really want.
—Ayn Rand (1905–82) Russian-born American Novelist, Philosopher
I have learned that there is always more to learn. And experience is our greatest teacher.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
Each one, reach one. Each one, teach one. Until all are taught.
—Mark Victor Hansen (b.1948) American Public Speaker, Motivational Speaker, Writer
Life always gives us exactly the teacher we need at every moment. This includes every mosquito, every misfortune, every red light, every traffic jam, every obnoxious supervisor (or employee), every illness, every loss, every moment of joy or depression, every addiction, every piece of garbage, every breath. Every moment is the guru.
—Joko Beck (1917–2011) American Zen Teacher
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