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30 Best Teacher Quotes That Cherish Those Valued Leaders

“It's the teacher that makes the difference, not the classroom.” 📚

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Elementary to high school is such an important time of a person's life. While students aren't necessarily earning a bachelor's or master's degree in those years, they're still learning some valuable information that can travel along with them for a lifetime. That's why teachers are incredibly important people in this world—because the impact that they have on students goes far beyond the classroom. It's important to help make these role models feel cherished for all of their hard work (on Teacher Appreciation Day and beyond), and a fantastic way to do that is by sharing one of these heartfelt teacher quotes.

These quotes can be a great way to say thank you to your favorite teacher! Attach them to a card alongside any cute teacher gift (like food gift baskets or pretty flower deliveries) for an added touch. Some of them are short and sweet, while others have more sentimental value to them. This quote from Ever Garrison says it all: “A teacher is a compass that activates the magnets of curiosity, knowledge, and wisdom in the pupils.” Others are a bit more philosophical, like this one from Dalai Lama: “When educating the minds of our youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts.”

It doesn't matter whether you're a student who wants to make your appreciation known or if you're a parent or guardian who sees the difference an educator is making—because these quotes can fit either circumstance. So, read through them for some words of inspiration!

Looking for more uplifting quotes?

1

Solomon Ortiz

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“Education is the key to success in life, and teachers make a lasting impact in the lives of their students.”

2

Michael Morpurgo

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“It's the teacher that makes the difference, not the classroom.”

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3

William Arthur Ward

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“Teaching is more than imparting knowledge; it is inspiring change. Learning is more than absorbing facts; it is acquiring understanding.”

4

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

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“A good teacher is like a candle— it consumes itself to light the way for others.”

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5

Joseph Joubert

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“To teach is to learn twice over.”

6

Jeannette Walls

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“And I’ve always thought that teachers in their way are holy— angels leading their flocks out of the darkness.”

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7

Benjamin Franklin

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“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

8

W.B. Yeats

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“Education is not the filling of a pot but the lighting of a fire.”

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9

Judy Blume

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“Our fingerprints don't fade from the lives we touch.”

10

Henry B. Adams

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

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11

John C. Maxwell

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“Students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

12

Malala Yousafzai

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“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.”

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13

Carl Buechner

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“They may forget what you said but they will not forget how you made them feel.”

14

Dalai Lama

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“When educating the minds of our youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts.”

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15

E.P. Bertin

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“It is not what is poured into the student, but what is planted, that counts.”

16

Ever Garrison

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“A teacher is a compass that activates the magnets of curiosity, knowledge, and wisdom in the pupils.”

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17

Aristotle

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“Those who know, do. Those that understand, teach.”

18

Dorothea Dix

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The duties of a teacher are neither few nor small, but they elevate the mind and give energy to the character.”

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19

Terry Heick

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“The best teachers are the ones that change their minds.”

20

Darwin D. Martin

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“A teacher's job is to take a bunch of live wires and see that they are well-grounded.”

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Josiah Soto
Digital Content Producer

Josiah is the Digital Content Producer for the commerce team at Popular Mechanics, Best Products, Runner’s World, and Bicycling Magazine. He also writes for “BIO Buys”—a column on Biography.com—giving readers the lowdown on what products their favorite celebs are using. In another life, Josiah was an editor at ThePioneerWoman.com, where he sharpened his expertise on all things lifestyle, food-news, and entertainment. Outside work related matters, he’s a fan of Studio Ghibli films, unimportant reality TV drama, and melancholy Lorde songs. 

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