--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We teach what we know, but we reproduce…" description: "\"We teach what we know, but we reproduce what we are.\" — John C. Maxwell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/john-c-maxwell-113_education_we-teach-what-we-know-but-we-reproduce-w_2307538.jpg" --- # We teach what we know, but we reproduce what we are. ![“We teach what we know, but we reproduce what we are.” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/john-c-maxwell-113_education_we-teach-what-we-know-but-we-reproduce-w_2307538.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/john-c-maxwell-113_education_we-teach-what-we-know-but-we-reproduce-w_2307538.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bf/john-c-maxwell-113_education_we-teach-what-we-know-but-we-reproduce-w_2307538.jpg) > “We teach what we know, but we reproduce what we are.” [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights that teaching transmits knowledge, but the deeper lesson is that we model our behavior through our actions. **In simple terms:** We teach by doing, not just by speaking. Key Takeaway Lead by example. Themes modeling education culture Mood thoughtful motivational Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - classroom teaching - corporate training - parenting - mentorship Key Concepts Social learning theory behavioral modeling Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure your actions reflect your values? - What habits reinforce positive modeling? A Different Perspective People may misinterpret modeling as mere imitation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Reproduce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-reproduce-1602877/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Reproduce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reproduce/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teach Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-know-310750/) ## Related quotes > [People may teach what they know, but they reproduce what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/people-may-teach-what-they-know-but-they-reproduce-what-they-are/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [You teach what you know, but you reproduce what you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/you-teach-what-you-know-but-you-reproduce-what-you-are/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [“You can teach what you know, but you reproduce what you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-cordiero/you-can-teach-what-you-know-but-you-reproduce-what-you-are/) [Wayne Cordiero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-cordiero/) > [You can teach what you know, but you can only reproduce what you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/you-can-teach-what-you-know-but-you-can-only-reproduce-what-you-are/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [“We can teach what we know, but ultimately, we will reproduce what we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-cordeiro/we-can-teach-what-we-know-but-ultimately-we-will-reproduce-what-we-are/) [Wayne Cordeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-cordeiro/) > [“Lord, show me how to gird up the core of my being with Your truth so that I don’t fall into deception of any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stormie-omartian/lord-show-me-how-to-gird-up-the-core-of-my-being-with-your-truth-so/) [Stormie Omartian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stormie-omartian/) > [I'll teach you to kick me...' You don't need to teach me--I already know how!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/i-ll-teach-you-to-kick-me-you-don-t-need-to-teach-me-i-already-know/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [I taught you everything you know. But I didn't teach you everything I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-taught-you-everything-you-know-but-i-didn-t-teach-you-everything-i/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“We cannot teach what we do not know and we cannot lead where we will not go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/we-cannot-teach-what-we-do-not-know-and-we-cannot-lead-where-we-will/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The first lessons with which we should irrigate his mind should be those which teach him to know himself, and to know how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-first-lessons-with-which-we-should-irrigate-his-mind-should-be/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [And an educated mind is nothing but the God-given mind of a child after his parents' and his grandparents' generation have got through molding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/and-an-educated-mind-is-nothing-but-the-god-given-mind-of-a-child/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [“You cannot give what you do not possess; and you cannot teach what you do not know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-r-shipp/you-cannot-give-what-you-do-not-possess-and-you-cannot-teach-what-you/) [Ellis R. Shipp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-r-shipp/) > [“You teach what you know... but impart who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-frost/you-teach-what-you-know-but-impart-who-you-are/) [Jack Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-frost/) > [“You can't teach a know-it-all, because they already know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-overman/you-can-t-teach-a-know-it-all-because-they-already-know/) [DE Overman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/de-overman/) > [I don't teach lies, but I do not teach all I know is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-mckillip/i-don-t-teach-lies-but-i-do-not-teach-all-i-know-is-true/) [Patricia A. McKillip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-mckillip/) ## More by John C. Maxwell > [“Why do so many people do nothing? 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