--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To teach an academic subject is certainly…" description: "\"To teach an academic subject is certainly not easy, but compared to coaching, it is. We can say 'two plus two is four' to every kid and be sure that we..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/joe-paterno-9402_academic_to-teach-an-academic-subject-is-certainl_3206334.jpg" --- # To teach an academic subject is certainly not easy, but… ![“To teach an academic subject is certainly not easy, but compared to coaching, it is. We can say 'two plus two is four' to every kid and be sure that we are right. But in coaching, we have to literally get to the soul of the people we are dealing with.” quote by Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/joe-paterno-9402_academic_to-teach-an-academic-subject-is-certainl_3206334.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/joe-paterno-9402_academic_to-teach-an-academic-subject-is-certainl_3206334.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/joe-paterno-9402_academic_to-teach-an-academic-subject-is-certainl_3206334.jpg) > “To teach an academic subject is certainly not easy, but compared to coaching, it is. We can say 'two plus two is four' to every kid and be sure that we are right. But in coaching, we have to literally get to the soul of the people we are dealing with.” [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teaching facts is straightforward; coaching requires deep personal connection and soul‑level engagement. **In simple terms:** Coaching goes beyond facts to hearts. Key Takeaway Build trust and understand individual motivations. Themes education coaching relationships Mood reflective encouraging Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - team sports - corporate mentorship - personal development Key Concepts empathy psychology motivation Questions to Reflect On - How do you reach someone's inner motivations? - What strategies deepen coach‑athlete bonds? A Different Perspective Coaching can be limited by lack of rapport. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Academic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academic/) [Coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching/) [Coaching Literally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching-literally-5972896/) [Coaching Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching-say-5972895/) [Compared Coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compared-coaching-5972897/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Mentorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentorship/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Plus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plus/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teach Academic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-academic-5972894/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [When I went to college, as much as my parents emphasized academic achievement, they emphasized marriage even more. They told me that the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/when-i-went-to-college-as-much-as-my-parents-emphasized-academic/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Doctoral training is devoted almost entirely to learning to do research, even though most Ph.Ds who enter academic life spend far more time teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/doctoral-training-is-devoted-almost-entirely-to-learning-to-do/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [The unary Photograph has every reason to be banal, 'unity' of composition being the first rule of vulgar (and notably, of academic) rhetoric: 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/the-unary-photograph-has-every-reason-to-be-banal-unity-of/) [Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/) > [Quality afterschool programs provide safe, engaging and fun learning experiences to help children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural and academic skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-stabenow/quality-afterschool-programs-provide-safe-engaging-and-fun-learning/) [Debbie Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-stabenow/) > [Nietzsche's ideas and plans: for example, the idea of giving up the whole wretched academic world to form a secular monastic community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/nietzsche-s-ideas-and-plans-for-example-the-idea-of-giving-up-the/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [And I'm the first one to tell people to break the rules. But you can only break the rules once you know what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/and-i-m-the-first-one-to-tell-people-to-break-the-rules-but-you-can/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [Perhaps art criticism cannot be reformed in a logical sense because it was never well-formed in the first place. Art criticism has long been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-elkins/perhaps-art-criticism-cannot-be-reformed-in-a-logical-sense-because/) [James Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-elkins/) > [“In the end, ethical interpretation of the Bible means to think critically about how our practices of textual engagement might help us to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/in-the-end-ethical-interpretation-of-the-bible-means-to-think/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [An academic discipline, or any other semiotic domain, for that matter, is not primarily content, in the sense of facts and principles. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-paul-gee/an-academic-discipline-or-any-other-semiotic-domain-for-that-matter/) [James Paul Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-paul-gee/) > [Because my graduate academic training at law school was not one that included most of the intellectual traditions I find useful for understanding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-spade/because-my-graduate-academic-training-at-law-school-was-not-one-that/) [Dean Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-spade/) > [Now know I well what people sought formerly above all else when they sought Teachers of virtue. Good sleep they sought for themselves, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/now-know-i-well-what-people-sought-formerly-above-all-else-when-they/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Marx, however imperfectly he worked out the details, set himself the task of discovering the law of motion of capitalism, and if there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-robinson/marx-however-imperfectly-he-worked-out-the-details-set-himself-the/) [Joan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-robinson/) > [The Carnegie Foundation is well aware of the fact that their reports frequently find their way to dusty archives in academic institutions, but occasionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-everett-koop/the-carnegie-foundation-is-well-aware-of-the-fact-that-their-reports/) [C. Everett Koop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-everett-koop/) > [Instead of explaining the sober facts of mechanics and electricity, I want to say a few words about the debt which we owe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-bloch/instead-of-explaining-the-sober-facts-of-mechanics-and-electricity-i/) [Felix Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-bloch/) > [I am not an academic who happens to have written a novel. I am a novelist who happens to be quite good academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/i-am-not-an-academic-who-happens-to-have-written-a-novel-i-am-a/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) ## More by Joe Paterno > [A hard-fought, well-fought, hairline-close game is as classical in sports as tragedy is in the theater. Victory is contained within defeat, and defeat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/a-hard-fought-well-fought-hairline-close-game-is-as-classical-in/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [“You're never as good as you think you are when you win; and you're never as bad as you feel when you lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/you-re-never-as-good-as-you-think-you-are-when-you-win-and-you-re/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [I'm not as concerned about me. What's happened to me has been great. I got five great kids. Seventeen grandchildren.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/i-m-not-as-concerned-about-me-what-s-happened-to-me-has-been-great-i/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [Those kinds of things all kind of pop into your head, and you try to rectify them by looking at it, making some changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/those-kinds-of-things-all-kind-of-pop-into-your-head-and-you-try-to/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [There has to be some self-denial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/there-has-to-be-some-self-denial/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [Keep hustling, something good will happen,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/keep-hustling-something-good-will-happen/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [It doesn't matter what people think of me. I've lived my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/it-doesn-t-matter-what-people-think-of-me-i-ve-lived-my-life/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/the-will-to-win-is-important-but-the-will-to-prepare-is-vital/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [In every life, there have to be some shadows. Look at me. My life has been filled with sunshine. A beautiful and caring wife.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/in-every-life-there-have-to-be-some-shadows-look-at-me-my-life-has/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [Don't just stand back and play the way you're coached. A great player must rise to the occasion and turn the game around on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/don-t-just-stand-back-and-play-the-way-you-re-coached-a-great-player/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [I think we played a pretty good football game overall. I think we played as well as we could at this time of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/i-think-we-played-a-pretty-good-football-game-overall-i-think-we/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [You must relate athletic experiences to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/you-must-relate-athletic-experiences-to-life/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [I don't think it's fair to 12-, 13- and 14-year-olds to say 'Show us you're a winner right now!' Winning isn't everything. I'll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/i-don-t-think-it-s-fair-to-12-13-and-14-year-olds-to-say-show-us-you/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [There's never been a greater game than football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/there-s-never-been-a-greater-game-than-football/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [I appreciate the fans and all that kind of stuff. It's kind of fun to hear it, as just another football game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/i-appreciate-the-fans-and-all-that-kind-of-stuff-it-s-kind-of-fun-to/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) [Explore all 73 Joe Paterno quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) ## More Academic quotes > [When I went to college, as much as my parents emphasized academic achievement, they emphasized marriage even more. They told me that the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/when-i-went-to-college-as-much-as-my-parents-emphasized-academic/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Instead of explaining the sober facts of mechanics and electricity, I want to say a few words about the debt which we owe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-bloch/instead-of-explaining-the-sober-facts-of-mechanics-and-electricity-i/) [Felix Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-bloch/) > [The Carnegie Foundation is well aware of the fact that their reports frequently find their way to dusty archives in academic institutions, but occasionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-everett-koop/the-carnegie-foundation-is-well-aware-of-the-fact-that-their-reports/) [C. Everett Koop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-everett-koop/) > [Marx, however imperfectly he worked out the details, set himself the task of discovering the law of motion of capitalism, and if there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-robinson/marx-however-imperfectly-he-worked-out-the-details-set-himself-the/) [Joan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-robinson/) > [Now know I well what people sought formerly above all else when they sought Teachers of virtue. Good sleep they sought for themselves, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/now-know-i-well-what-people-sought-formerly-above-all-else-when-they/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Because my graduate academic training at law school was not one that included most of the intellectual traditions I find useful for understanding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-spade/because-my-graduate-academic-training-at-law-school-was-not-one-that/) [Dean Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-spade/) > [An academic discipline, or any other semiotic domain, for that matter, is not primarily content, in the sense of facts and principles. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-paul-gee/an-academic-discipline-or-any-other-semiotic-domain-for-that-matter/) [James Paul Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-paul-gee/) > [“In the end, ethical interpretation of the Bible means to think critically about how our practices of textual engagement might help us to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/in-the-end-ethical-interpretation-of-the-bible-means-to-think/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [Perhaps art criticism cannot be reformed in a logical sense because it was never well-formed in the first place. Art criticism has long been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-elkins/perhaps-art-criticism-cannot-be-reformed-in-a-logical-sense-because/) [James Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-elkins/) > [And I'm the first one to tell people to break the rules. But you can only break the rules once you know what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/and-i-m-the-first-one-to-tell-people-to-break-the-rules-but-you-can/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [Nietzsche's ideas and plans: for example, the idea of giving up the whole wretched academic world to form a secular monastic community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/nietzsche-s-ideas-and-plans-for-example-the-idea-of-giving-up-the/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [Quality afterschool programs provide safe, engaging and fun learning experiences to help children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural and academic skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-stabenow/quality-afterschool-programs-provide-safe-engaging-and-fun-learning/) [Debbie Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-stabenow/) > [The unary Photograph has every reason to be banal, 'unity' of composition being the first rule of vulgar (and notably, of academic) rhetoric: 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/the-unary-photograph-has-every-reason-to-be-banal-unity-of/) [Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/) > [Doctoral training is devoted almost entirely to learning to do research, even though most Ph.Ds who enter academic life spend far more time teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/doctoral-training-is-devoted-almost-entirely-to-learning-to-do/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [I am not an academic who happens to have written a novel. I am a novelist who happens to be quite good academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/i-am-not-an-academic-who-happens-to-have-written-a-novel-i-am-a/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) [Browse all 958 Academic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To teach an academic subject is certainly not easy, but compared to coaching, it is. We can say 'two plus two is four' to every kid and be sure that we are right. 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