--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Education can't make us all leaders, but…" description: "\"Education can't make us all leaders, but it can teach us which leader to follow.\" — Bel Kaufman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/bel-kaufman-13657_education_education-can-t-make-us-all-leaders-but_1076036.png" --- # Education can't make us all leaders, but it can teach us… ![“Education can't make us all leaders, but it can teach us which leader to follow.” quote by Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/bel-kaufman-13657_education_education-can-t-make-us-all-leaders-but_1076036.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/bel-kaufman-13657_education_education-can-t-make-us-all-leaders-but_1076036.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/bel-kaufman-13657_education_education-can-t-make-us-all-leaders-but_1076036.png) > “Education can't make us all leaders, but it can teach us which leader to follow.” [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Education does not guarantee leadership for everyone, but it helps individuals identify the most suitable leader to follow. **In simple terms:** Education guides you to the right leader. Key Takeaway Seek mentors, not titles. Themes education leadership mentorship Mood thoughtful inspired Type advice reflective When to use this quote - career decisions - political engagement - personal development Key Concepts self-awareness critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - Who is the leader you should follow? - How does education shape your choice? A Different Perspective Education may not reveal the best leader in all contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leader Follow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader-follow-929229/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Leaders Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-teach-466029/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Make Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-leaders-1803484/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teach Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-leader-2706116/) ## Related quotes > [“When leaders teach, they invest in their people’s ability to solve and avoid problems in the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/when-leaders-teach-they-invest-in-their-people-s-ability-to-solve-and/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [Leaders don't make followers instead, they make more leaders...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smbdr/leaders-don-t-make-followers-instead-they-make-more-leaders/) [SMBDR](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smbdr/) > [Leaders teach. They motivate. They care. Leaders make sure that the way to success is always broad enough and straight enough for others to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/leaders-teach-they-motivate-they-care-leaders-make-sure-that-the-way/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [In the hands of great school leaders, Teach First can make a spectacular difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/in-the-hands-of-great-school-leaders-teach-first-can-make-a/) [Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/) > [A leader's job is not just to get the best out of their people-a leader's job is to make more leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/a-leader-s-job-is-not-just-to-get-the-best-out-of-their-people-a/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [The best leaders have to teach. The best way to teach a man how to use a shovel is to grab one and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-leaders-have-to-teach-the-best-way-to-teach-a-man-how-to-use/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Powerful dictatorships that make their leaders powerful need to stage wars to get ordinary people to march in lockstep like mindless Nazi robots. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-a-ledeen/powerful-dictatorships-that-make-their-leaders-powerful-need-to-stage/) [Michael A. Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-a-ledeen/) > [I have always believed that on important issues, the leaders must lead. Where the leaders fail to lead, and people are really concerned about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/i-have-always-believed-that-on-important-issues-the-leaders-must-lead/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Some missionaries are giants in the Spirit and pygmies in skills in the Spirit. Work hard to develop a balance. Your leaders, and you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-scott/some-missionaries-are-giants-in-the-spirit-and-pygmies-in-skills-in/) [Richard G. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/) > [Leaders are defined by the decisions they make ... Leaders rise and fall by the decisions they make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-daniel-vega/leaders-are-defined-by-the-decisions-they-make-leaders-rise-and-fall/) [Mario Daniel Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-daniel-vega/) > [People don't follow a leader but follow a vision - a vision of what the future looks like and how their work helps them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-grossman/people-don-t-follow-a-leader-but-follow-a-vision-a-vision-of-what-the/) [Mindy Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-grossman/) > [You know, being America, being the land of "number ones", everyone wants to be a leader before they follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branford-marsalis/you-know-being-america-being-the-land-of-number-ones-everyone-wants/) [Branford Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branford-marsalis/) > [Be a leader for once. Follow who you want to follow. Just live your own life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-a-leader-for-once-follow-who-you-want-to-follow-just-live-your-own/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would rather be an artist than a leader. Ironically, a leader has to follow the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/i-would-rather-be-an-artist-than-a-leader-ironically-a-leader-has-to/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Youre a leader when you can get a leader to follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jadakiss/youre-a-leader-when-you-can-get-a-leader-to-follow-you/) [Jadakiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jadakiss/) ## More by Bel Kaufman > [I like the word OLD. Not senior, that's for proms. Older? Older than whom? 'Old' is honorable and ripe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/i-like-the-word-old-not-senior-that-s-for-proms-older-older-than-whom/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [“What makes you think you’re so special? Just because you’re a teacher? What he was really saying was: You are so special. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/what-makes-you-think-you-re-so-special-just-because-you-re-a-teacher/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [“How can you wish on a turkey wishbone with a man who is capable of correcting a love letter?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/how-can-you-wish-on-a-turkey-wishbone-with-a-man-who-is-capable-of/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [Time collapses and expands like an erratic accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/time-collapses-and-expands-like-an-erratic-accordion/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [Education is not a product: mark, diploma, job, money-in that order; it is a process, a never-ending one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/education-is-not-a-product-mark-diploma-job-money-in-that-order-it-is/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [A teacher is frequently the only adult in the pupil's environment who treats him with respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/a-teacher-is-frequently-the-only-adult-in-the-pupil-s-environment-who/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [I am writing this during my lunch period, because I need to reach towards the outside world of sanity, because I am overwhelmed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/i-am-writing-this-during-my-lunch-period-because-i-need-to-reach/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [Learning is a process of mutual discovery for teacher and pupil. Keep an open mind to their unexpected responses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/learning-is-a-process-of-mutual-discovery-for-teacher-and-pupil-keep/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [When giving comes directly from the heart, it can never disappoint or embarrass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/when-giving-comes-directly-from-the-heart-it-can-never-disappoint-or/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [Children are the true connoisseurs. What’s precious to them has no price, only value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/children-are-the-true-connoisseurs-what-s-precious-to-them-has-no/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [“But I am busiest outside of my teaching classes. Do you know any other business or profession where highly-skilled specialists are required to tally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/but-i-am-busiest-outside-of-my-teaching-classes-do-you-know-any-other/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [Mythology is studied in the school system because most of us come from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/mythology-is-studied-in-the-school-system-because-most-of-us-come/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [But if there is such a thing as social commitment in literature, I think it must manifest itself in a reader's awareness of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/but-if-there-is-such-a-thing-as-social-commitment-in-literature-i/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [Laughter keeps you healthy. You can survive by seeing the humor in everything. Thumb your nose at sadness; turn the tables on tragedy. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/laughter-keeps-you-healthy-you-can-survive-by-seeing-the-humor-in/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) > [“This is just the first day; you’ll get used to it. The rewards will come later, from the kids themselves–and from the unlikeliest ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/this-is-just-the-first-day-you-ll-get-used-to-it-the-rewards-will/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) [Explore all 49 Bel Kaufman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) ## More Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. Otherwise the world would be full of millionaires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/in-school-you-are-taught-to-obey-and-not-to-think-straight-for-your/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) [Ioannes Amos Commenius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioannes-amos-commenius/) > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) [H.D. (Hilda Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-hilda-doolittle/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [English teachers tend to put more thought in the books than the author did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/english-teachers-tend-to-put-more-thought-in-the-books-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) [Browse all 37,666 Education quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Education can't make us all leaders, but it can teach us which leader to follow.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bel Kaufman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/education-can-t-make-us-all-leaders-but-it-can-teach-us-which-leader/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Education" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/education-can-t-make-us-all-leaders-but-it-can-teach-us-which-leader/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/bel-kaufman-13657_education_education-can-t-make-us-all-leaders-but_1076036.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/bel-kaufman-13657_education_education-can-t-make-us-all-leaders-but_1076036.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/bel-kaufman-13657_education_education-can-t-make-us-all-leaders-but_1076036.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Education can't make us all leaders, but it can teach us which leader to follow.” — Bel Kaufman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bel Kaufman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Education can't make us all leaders,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/education-can-t-make-us-all-leaders-but-it-can-teach-us-which-leader/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/education-can-t-make-us-all-leaders-but-it-can-teach-us-which-leader/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```