--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You cannot teach what you don't know. You…" description: "\"You cannot teach what you don't know. You cannot give energy if you're not on fire on the inside.\" — Jesse Jackson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/jesse-jackson-1161_education_you-cannot-teach-what-you-don-t-know-you_1931304.jpg" --- # You cannot teach what you don't know. You cannot give… ![“You cannot teach what you don't know. You cannot give energy if you're not on fire on the inside.” quote by Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/jesse-jackson-1161_education_you-cannot-teach-what-you-don-t-know-you_1931304.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/jesse-jackson-1161_education_you-cannot-teach-what-you-don-t-know-you_1931304.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/jesse-jackson-1161_education_you-cannot-teach-what-you-don-t-know-you_1931304.jpg) > “You cannot teach what you don't know. You cannot give energy if you're not on fire on the inside.” [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective teaching requires deep personal knowledge and passion; without them, instruction lacks authenticity and impact. **In simple terms:** Teach only what you understand and feel passionate about. Key Takeaway Cultivate expertise and inner drive before teaching. Themes education passion expertise Mood inspirational serious Type motivational educational When to use this quote - classroom teaching - mentoring - public speaking - training workshops Key Concepts self‑efficacy motivation knowledge transfer Questions to Reflect On - How can you deepen your understanding before teaching? - What fuels your inner fire for teaching? A Different Perspective If you lack knowledge, you risk spreading misinformation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Energy Inside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy-inside-378207/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-energy-931700/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) ## Related quotes > [We all have a potential revolutionary energy inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-lelio/we-all-have-a-potential-revolutionary-energy-inside/) [Sebastian Lelio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-lelio/) > [When you start moving into the internal stuff, you start learning how you don't get your power from your muscles. You open up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-frantzis/when-you-start-moving-into-the-internal-stuff-you-start-learning-how/) [Bruce Frantzis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-frantzis/) > [ I was trying to capture this man's \[Idi Amin\] energy, and I did a lot of research in studying him. I tried to capture… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-was-trying-to-capture-this-man-s-idi-amin-energy-and-i-did-a-lot-of/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [“If a sperm can give the berth to a human. Definitely sperm is powerful energy. So never waste it and burn this energy inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deshwal-sachin/if-a-sperm-can-give-the-berth-to-a-human-definitely-sperm-is-powerful-2/) [Deshwal Sachin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deshwal-sachin/) > [“Jemma Simmons- I like to think about the first law of thermodynamics, that no energy in the universe is created... Jemma Simmons, Leo Fitz-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-whedon/jemma-simmons-i-like-to-think-about-the-first-law-of-thermodynamics/) [Jed Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-whedon/) > [“Because extroversion lines up so well with American values, we introverts often deprive ourselves of what we most enjoy and thrive on. So, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/because-extroversion-lines-up-so-well-with-american-values-we/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [“We know that energy can not be created nor destroyed but can be changed in it's form. If it can not be formed then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-ali/we-know-that-energy-can-not-be-created-nor-destroyed-but-can-be/) [Mohammed Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-ali/) > [Everybody tells me they don't know how I have so much energy, and I think people feed off that, which is great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-yedlin/everybody-tells-me-they-don-t-know-how-i-have-so-much-energy-and-i/) [DeAndre Yedlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-yedlin/) > [“You should know about this energy because it’s yours. It’s your birthright, and it’s unlimited. You can call upon it any time you want.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-a-singer/you-should-know-about-this-energy-because-it-s-yours-it-s-your/) [Michael A. Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-a-singer/) > [We don't know what energy is, any more than we know what information is, but as a now robust scientific concept we can describe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-christian-von-baeyer/we-don-t-know-what-energy-is-any-more-than-we-know-what-information/) [Hans Christian von Baeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-christian-von-baeyer/) > [Do you know how much energy, how many powers, how many forces, are still lurking behind that frame of yours? What scientist has known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/do-you-know-how-much-energy-how-many-powers-how-many-forces-are-still/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Energy? What energy? Ha ha, the only energy I know is energy drinks. I’m totally like everyone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-n-crawford/energy-what-energy-ha-ha-the-only-energy-i-know-is-energy-drinks-i-m/) [C.N. Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-n-crawford/) > [We know how to get all of the energy we need without using dirty or dangerous fuel sources. It is no longer a question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brune/we-know-how-to-get-all-of-the-energy-we-need-without-using-dirty-or/) [Michael Brune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brune/) > [All of us know that the energy from the sun can now be harnessed, and we need to convert it sensibly to use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukesh-ambani/all-of-us-know-that-the-energy-from-the-sun-can-now-be-harnessed-and/) [Mukesh Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mukesh-ambani/) > [I know my energy level is unlike others. I know that my capacity to really think fast is unlike others, but I also know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mauro-ranallo/i-know-my-energy-level-is-unlike-others-i-know-that-my-capacity-to/) [Mauro Ranallo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mauro-ranallo/) ## More by Jesse Jackson > [If my mind can conceive it ,and my heart can believe it,i known I can achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/if-my-mind-can-conceive-it-and-my-heart-can-believe-it-i-known-i-can/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [We reveal our joys and successes, we conceal our pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-reveal-our-joys-and-successes-we-conceal-our-pain/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [We blacks were the first people embracing Obama, long before the people at expensive fundraisers were supporting him. We gave him his first love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-blacks-were-the-first-people-embracing-obama-long-before-the/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [The coffers are full of money and equipment for the Ferguson Police and the Missouri National Guard to put down a potential uprising, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-coffers-are-full-of-money-and-equipment-for-the-ferguson-police/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Many are observing Ferguson and witnessing the anger, demonstrations, looting and vandalism and calling for quiet. But quiet isn't enough. The absence of noise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/many-are-observing-ferguson-and-witnessing-the-anger-demonstrations/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [What's good for the very rich might not be good for anybody but them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/what-s-good-for-the-very-rich-might-not-be-good-for-anybody-but-them/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Those who have the most wealth and the most property, their children have the first, the best, and the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/those-who-have-the-most-wealth-and-the-most-property-their-children/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Most blacks will argue that they excel because of hard work, because of intellect, determination, sweat, blood, tears and risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/most-blacks-will-argue-that-they-excel-because-of-hard-work-because/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Pictures can live in one's memory. That's why they are important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/pictures-can-live-in-one-s-memory-that-s-why-they-are-important/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [A check or credit card, a Gucci bag strap, anything of value will do. Give as you live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/a-check-or-credit-card-a-gucci-bag-strap-anything-of-value-will-do/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [When they wrote the Constitution, only white male landowners had the right to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/when-they-wrote-the-constitution-only-white-male-landowners-had-the/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [I'm too mature to be angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/i-m-too-mature-to-be-angry/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [We picked their cotton. We cooked their food. We nursed their babies. Now we can run their cities. We can run their states. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-picked-their-cotton-we-cooked-their-food-we-nursed-their-babies/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [There are clear patterns of discrimination against Blacks and Latinos. The big banks targeted Blacks and Latinos with toxic packages of subprime predatory lending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/there-are-clear-patterns-of-discrimination-against-blacks-and-latinos/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Few would deny that blacks have become very dominant in athletics: football, basketball, track, now dominant in tennis and dominant in golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/few-would-deny-that-blacks-have-become-very-dominant-in-athletics/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) [Explore all 281 Jesse Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) ## 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": "You cannot teach what you don't know. You cannot give energy if you're not on fire on the inside.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jesse Jackson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/you-cannot-teach-what-you-don-t-know-you-cannot-give-energy-if-you-re/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Education" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/you-cannot-teach-what-you-don-t-know-you-cannot-give-energy-if-you-re/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/jesse-jackson-1161_education_you-cannot-teach-what-you-don-t-know-you_1931304.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/jesse-jackson-1161_education_you-cannot-teach-what-you-don-t-know-you_1931304.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/jesse-jackson-1161_education_you-cannot-teach-what-you-don-t-know-you_1931304.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You cannot teach what you don't know. You cannot give energy if you're not on fire on the inside.” — Jesse Jackson", "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": "Jesse Jackson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You cannot teach what you don't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/you-cannot-teach-what-you-don-t-know-you-cannot-give-energy-if-you-re/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/you-cannot-teach-what-you-don-t-know-you-cannot-give-energy-if-you-re/#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 } } ] } ```