"Few have been taught to any purpose who have not been their own teachers"
- Joshua Reynolds
About this Quote
This quote by Joshua Reynolds speaks to the value of self-education. He recommends that those who have been taught to any function have been their own instructors. This indicates that the most effective way to discover is to take the initiative and teach oneself. It is not enough to just rely on the guideline of others. Instead, one must want to take the time to explore and discover understanding on their own.
Reynolds' quote motivates people to take ownership of their learning. It recommends that the most effective trainees are those who are willing to take the initiative and teach themselves. This could mean reading books, researching topics, or engaging in activities that assist to broaden one's knowledge. It is important to bear in mind that learning is an ongoing process which it depends on the private to take the effort to continue to grow and develop.
"I went to school at this log school house. A white woman was my teacher, I do not remember her name. My father had to pay her one dollar a month for me. Us kids that went to school did not have desks, we used slates and set on the hued down logs for seats"
"I always wanted to go to the Chavez school but I could never afford it when I was growing up so a lot of my learning came from magic books and watching other magicians. I was also very lucky that I had a couple of really good magic teachers"
"We need to redefine the role of the teacher from that of the transmitter of knowledge to that of a researcher, co-learner, and partner in the process of constructing knowledge"
"I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit"
