---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He is not likely to learn who is not…"
description: "\"He is not likely to learn who is not willing to be taught; for the learner has something to do, as well as the teacher.\" — Benjamin Whichcote"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/benjamin-whichcote-7885_education_he-is-not-likely-to-learn-who-is-not-wil_848922.png"
---

#  He is not likely to learn who is not willing to be taught…

![“He is not likely to learn who is not willing to be taught; for the learner has something to do, as well as the teacher.” quote by Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/benjamin-whichcote-7885_education_he-is-not-likely-to-learn-who-is-not-wil_848922.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/benjamin-whichcote-7885_education_he-is-not-likely-to-learn-who-is-not-wil_848922.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/benjamin-whichcote-7885_education_he-is-not-likely-to-learn-who-is-not-wil_848922.png)

> “He is not likely to learn who is not willing to be taught; for the learner has something to do, as well as the teacher.”

[Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Learning requires willingness; if a student resists instruction, both teacher and learner suffer.

**In simple terms:** Teaching needs a willing student; otherwise both suffer.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate openness to learning.

Themes

education humility teaching learning resistance

Mood

inquisitive encouraging thoughtful

Type

philosophical motivational reflective

When to use this quote

- classroom
- mentor relationships
- self‑study

Key Concepts

Pedagogy mindset personal growth

Questions to Reflect On

- What blocks a learner’s openness?
- How can teachers inspire willingness?

A Different Perspective

Even willing teachers cannot force learning.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Learn Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-willing-726370/) [Learner Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learner-teacher-726368/) [Learners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learners/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Mentorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentorship/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Taught Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught-learner-726369/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Willing Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing-taught-726367/)

## Related quotes

> [Just as we're all students throughout life, we're all teachers. In fact, we learn best by offering what we desire for ourselves to as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/just-as-we-re-all-students-throughout-life-we-re-all-teachers-in-fact/)

[Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/)

> [ \[The Barefoot College is\] the only college where the teacher is the learner and the learner is the teacher. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunker-roy/the-barefoot-college-is-the-only-college-where-the-teacher-is-the/)

[Bunker Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunker-roy/)

> [All learning is in the learner, not the teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/all-learning-is-in-the-learner-not-the-teacher/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [To be a teacher in the right sense is to be a learner. I am not a teacher, only a fellow student.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/to-be-a-teacher-in-the-right-sense-is-to-be-a-learner-i-am-not-a/)

[Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/)

> [What I've found about it is that there are some folks you can talk to until you're blue in the face--they're never going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/what-i-ve-found-about-it-is-that-there-are-some-folks-you-can-talk-to/)

[Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/)

> [Those, and those only, can expect to be taught by God, who are ready and willing to do as they are taught... Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-and-those-only-can-expect-to-be-taught-by-god-who-are-ready-and/)

[Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/)

> [As to my success here I cannot say much as yet: the Indians seem generally kind, and well-disposed towards me, and are mostly very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/as-to-my-success-here-i-cannot-say-much-as-yet-the-indians-seem/)

[David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/)

> [“It is not the teacher's proper task to be constantly testing and checking the understanding of the learner. That's the learner's task, and only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-holt/it-is-not-the-teacher-s-proper-task-to-be-constantly-testing-and/)

[John Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-holt/)

> [If something's broke, fix it. If you don't know how, learn. If you're not willing to learn, don't complain about it. If it can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-something-s-broke-fix-it-if-you-don-t-know-how-learn-if-you-re-not/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When you're challenged to the extreme, you learn so much about yourself. And when you're willing to give that ultimate sacrifice, when you're willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ant-middleton/when-you-re-challenged-to-the-extreme-you-learn-so-much-about/)

[Ant Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ant-middleton/)

> [Do what you feel called to do, but also be prepared to accept that you don't necessarily know what you're going to learn. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/do-what-you-feel-called-to-do-but-also-be-prepared-to-accept-that-you/)

[M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/)

> [I'm not an expert at relationships. I don't know how to handle every fight we're going to have, and I will never be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haylee/i-m-not-an-expert-at-relationships-i-don-t-know-how-to-handle-every/)

[Haylee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haylee/)

> [And to learn, you have to be willing to push yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-chastain/and-to-learn-you-have-to-be-willing-to-push-yourself/)

[Brandi Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-chastain/)

> [We'll only done learning, when we are no longer living, as long as we are alive we'll continue to learn either willing or must.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/we-ll-only-done-learning-when-we-are-no-longer-living-as-long-as-we/)

[Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/)

> [Let the main object... to seek and to find a method of instruction, by which teachers may teach less, but learners learn more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amos-comenius/let-the-main-object-to-seek-and-to-find-a-method-of-instruction-by/)

[John Amos Comenius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amos-comenius/)

## More by Benjamin Whichcote

> [Whoever despiseth shame, despiseth sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/whoever-despiseth-shame-despiseth-sin/)

[Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

> [Truth is not only a man's ornament but his instrument; it is the great man's glory, and the poor man's stock: a man's truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/truth-is-not-only-a-man-s-ornament-but-his-instrument-it-is-the-great/)

[Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

> [He that repents is angry with himself; I need not be angry with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-that-repents-is-angry-with-himself-i-need-not-be-angry-with-him/)

[Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

> [None can do a man so much harm as he doeth himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/none-can-do-a-man-so-much-harm-as-he-doeth-himself/)

[Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

> [Let not a man's self be to him all in all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/let-not-a-man-s-self-be-to-him-all-in-all/)

[Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

> [Take away the self-conceited, and there will be elbowroom in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/take-away-the-self-conceited-and-there-will-be-elbowroom-in-the-world/)

[Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

> [Let us all so live as we shall wish we had lived when we come to die; for that only is well, that ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/let-us-all-so-live-as-we-shall-wish-we-had-lived-when-we-come-to-die/)

[Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

> [Christ is God clothed with human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/christ-is-god-clothed-with-human-nature/)

[Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

> [The sense of repentance is better assurance of pardon than the testimony of an angel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/the-sense-of-repentance-is-better-assurance-of-pardon-than-the/)

[Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

> [We are made for one another, and each is to be a supply to his neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/we-are-made-for-one-another-and-each-is-to-be-a-supply-to-his-neighbor/)

[Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

> [A benefactor is a representative of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/a-benefactor-is-a-representative-of-god/)

[Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

> [He that would have the perfection of pleasure must be moderate in the use of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-that-would-have-the-perfection-of-pleasure-must-be-moderate-in-the/)

[Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

> [He that useth his reason doth acknowledge God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-that-useth-his-reason-doth-acknowledge-god/)

[Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

> [None of us was born knowing or wise; but men become wise by consideration, observation, experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/none-of-us-was-born-knowing-or-wise-but-men-become-wise-by/)

[Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

> [None are so empty as those who are full of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/none-are-so-empty-as-those-who-are-full-of-themselves/)

[Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

[Explore all 86 Benjamin Whichcote quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/)

## 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": "He is not likely to learn who is not willing to be taught; for the learner has something to do, as well as the teacher.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Benjamin Whichcote"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-is-not-likely-to-learn-who-is-not-willing-to-be-taught-for-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Education"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-is-not-likely-to-learn-who-is-not-willing-to-be-taught-for-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/benjamin-whichcote-7885_education_he-is-not-likely-to-learn-who-is-not-wil_848922.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/benjamin-whichcote-7885_education_he-is-not-likely-to-learn-who-is-not-wil_848922.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/benjamin-whichcote-7885_education_he-is-not-likely-to-learn-who-is-not-wil_848922.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“He is not likely to learn who is not willing to be taught; for the learner has something to do, as well as…” — Benjamin Whichcote",
                "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": "Benjamin Whichcote",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "He is not likely to learn...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-is-not-likely-to-learn-who-is-not-willing-to-be-taught-for-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-is-not-likely-to-learn-who-is-not-willing-to-be-taught-for-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```