Teachers are some of the most important and influential role models in our lives. Whether they are in the classroom or on the playground, teachers make a lasting impact on the lives of their students. Inspired by the wonderful educators we know, here is a collection of inspirational teacher quotes to honor our favorite teachers and educators.

Top 10 Inspirational Teacher Quotes

  1. “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” – Henry Adams

  2. “The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don’t tell you what to see.” – Alexandra K. Trenfor

  3. “Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.” – William Butler Yeats

  4. “Good teachers know how to bring out the best in students.” – Charles Kuralt

  5. “The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.” – Khalil Gibran

  6. “A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.” – Brad Henry

  7. “A teacher’s purpose is not to create students in his own image, but to develop students who can create their own image.” – Unknown

  8. “Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.” – Chinese Proverb

  9. “The most important thing a teacher can do is to believe in his or her students.” – Unknown

  10. “A teacher’s job is to take a bunch of live wires and see that they are well-grounded.” – D. Martin

Inspiring Quotes About the Rewards of Teaching

  1. “The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.” – Khalil Gibran

  2. “A great teacher is one who motivates their students to think for themselves, inspires them to reach their full potential, and instills in them a passion for learning.” – Unknown

  3. “The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book.” – Unknown

  4. “A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind and touches a heart.” – Unknown

  5. “Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” – Malala Yousafzai

  6. “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” – William Arthur Ward

  7. “A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others.” – Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

  8. “The teachers who change lives are the ones who show a genuine care and concern.”– Morrie Schwartz

  9. “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” – George Washington Carver

  10. “Teaching is the one profession that creates all other professions.” – Unknown

Motivating Quotes on the Value of Education

  1. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

  2. “The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” – Malcolm S. Forbes

  3. “The purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts…it is to teach them to think, if that is possible, and always to think for themselves.” – Robert M. Hutchins

  4. “The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change.” – Carl Rogers

  5. “Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.” – Robert Frost

  6. “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” – Aristotle

  7. “The most useful and important ability that you can possess in our rapidly changing world today is the ability to think critically.” – Donald L. Sparks

  8. “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” – John Dewey

  9. “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X

  10. “The most important thing a teacher can do is to believe in his or her students.” – Unknown

Wise Words to Help Us Embrace Life’s Most Important Lessons

  1. “The goal of education is not to increase the amount of knowledge but to create the possibilities for a child to invent and discover, to create, to become morally mature, and to become a leader.” – Maria Montessori

  2. “Be a teacher who gives lessons in life as well as books.” – Unknown

  3. “Education is not an affair of ‘sending’ and ‘receiving’ information, but an active and constructive process.” – John Dewey

  4. “The real lesson of education is to teach us to think, to get the ability to analyze and learn from the past and present, and to look for answers in the future.” – Unknown

  5. “The purpose of education is not just to fill the mind with facts, but to enlarge and expand it.” – Unknown

  6. “You can never be a great teacher until you become a great learner.” – Unknown

  7. “Education is not a preparation for life, but life itself.” – John Dewey

  8. “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” – Socrates

  9. “Learning is not a spectator sport. Students do not learn much just by sitting in classes listening to teachers, memorizing prepackaged assignments, and spitting out answers. They must talk about what they are learning, write reflecting what they are learning, relate what they are learning to past experiences, and apply what they are learning to their daily lives.” – Rita Dunn

  10. “Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Words of Encouragement for Aspiring Teachers

  1. “Teachers have the ability to shape the lives of the people they teach. They have the power to inspire, motivate, and challenge their students.” – Unknown

  2. “Teaching is the most rewarding job. It can make an impact on the lives of generations.” – Unknown

  3. “Listen to your students, believe in them, and be willing to challenge them.” – Unknown

  4. “Teaching is one of the most valuable and rewarding careers available. You can be the difference in someone’s life.” – Unknown

  5. “The best teachers don’t just teach the subject, they inspire the students to find their own passions.” – Unknown

  6. “Teaching is an awesome responsibility and opportunity; it takes a special person to be a great teacher.” – Unknown

  7. “Success is built on relationships and a teacher’s success depends on building positive relationships with students.” – Unknown

  8. “Teaching is the process of helping a child become the person that he or she can be.” – Unknown

  9. “Teaching gives us opportunities to shape society, to foster the talents of our students, and to inspire the future generations.” – Unknown

  10. “As a teacher, you have the unique opportunity to impact your students’ lives on a daily basis. Never take this responsibility lightly.” – Unknown

We are lucky to have such wonderful teachers and educators in our lives. They are the people who shape our minds, challenge us to be better, and encourage us to dream bigger. Inspirational teacher quotes can be a great reminder to be thankful for our favorite teachers and educators, and to be inspired to take those lessons they taught us and apply them to our lives.

Previous articlePowerful Ways to Connect With Your Partner in Everyday Life
Next articleComplete Guide to Skirt Styles