The goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately defeat him.

The true aim of everyone who aspires to be a teacher should be, not to impart his own opinions, but to kindle minds.

In the education of children there is nothing like alluring the interest and affection, otherwise you only make so many asses laden with books.

An understanding heart is everything in a teacher, and cannot be esteemed highly enough. One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feeling. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.

Teaching is more difficult than learning because what teaching calls for is this: to let learn. The real teacher, in fact, lets nothing else be learned than learning. His conduct, therefore, often produces the impression that we properly learn nothing from him, if by "learning" we now suddenly understand merely the procurement of useful information.

A wisely chosen illustration is almost essential to fasten the truth upon the ordinary mind, and no teacher can afford to neglect this part of his preparation.

The best teacher is the one who suggests rather than dogmatizes, and inspires his listener with the wish to teach himself.

You teach best what you most need to learn.

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.

Gossip is always a personal confession of malice or imbecility; it is a low, frivolous, and too often a dirty business. There are neighborhoods where it rages like a pest; churches are split in pieces by it, and neighbor made enemies for life. Let the young avoid or cure it while they may.