It is impossible to overstate the importance of teachers. Even as I write this sentence, I am reminded of the quirky first grade teacher who taught me how to spell the word “sentence,” as well as the college professors who hammered home the finer points of using commas within double quotation marks. Now that I’m far from school and well into adulthood, I am finally beginning to appreciate the tremendous influence of my teachers from years past. They really deserve more praise than I could offer alone. And as these quotes about teachers to share with your educators on National Teacher Appreciation Day prove, plenty of prominent thinkers also revere the far-reaching influences of educators.
Whether you’re thankful for that dynamic college professor who made you work your hardest, or your kid’s brilliant preschool teacher, there are plenty of reasons to thank the educators in your life. After all, it takes a lot of patience and grit to mold wild little children into forward-thinking, compassionate members of society. Taking a moment to show your gratitude for educators in all corners of your life is only natural. And if you happen to be a teacher, then please accept this sincere message of thanks. Helping others learn is one of the most laudable tasks of all.
“The older I got, the smarter my teachers became.” ― Ally Carter
"The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called 'truth'." — Dan Rather
"Teachers teach because they care. Teaching young people is what they do best. It requires long hours, patience, and care." — Horace Mann
“The thing I loved the most — and still love the most about teaching — is that you can connect with an individual or a group, and see that individual or group exceed their limits.” — Mike Krzyzewski
"In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something less." — Lee Iacocca
“Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.” ― Aristotle
“When you study great teachers, you will learn much more from their caring and hard work than from their style.” ― William Glasser
“That disapproving look was back in her eyes. Her teacher face. The one that could make you squirm from ten paces, even if you were innocent.” ― Laurell K. Hamilton
“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” ― Malala Yousafzai
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” — B.B. King
“Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me.” — Fred Rogers
“Everyone who remembers his own education remembers teachers, not methods and techniques. The teacher is the heart of the educational system." — Sidney Hook
“Every child should have a caring adult in their lives. And that’s not always a biological parent or family member. It may be a friend or neighbor. Often times it is a teacher." — Joe Manchin
“The job of an educator is to teach students to see the vitality in themselves.” — Joseph Campbell
“Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.” — Bob Talber
"Teachers, I believe, are the most responsible and important members of society because their professional efforts affect the fate of the earth." — Helen Caldicott
"In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years." — Jacques Barzun
