--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You've got to accept the fact that you…" description: "\"You've got to accept the fact that you are basically not teaching a subject, you are teaching children\" — Madeleine L'Engle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/madeleine-l-engle-345_accepting_you-ve-got-to-accept-the-fact-that-you-a_2944795.png" --- # You've got to accept the fact that you are basically not… ![“You've got to accept the fact that you are basically not teaching a subject, you are teaching children” quote by Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/madeleine-l-engle-345_accepting_you-ve-got-to-accept-the-fact-that-you-a_2944795.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/madeleine-l-engle-345_accepting_you-ve-got-to-accept-the-fact-that-you-a_2944795.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/madeleine-l-engle-345_accepting_you-ve-got-to-accept-the-fact-that-you-a_2944795.png) > “You've got to accept the fact that you are basically not teaching a subject, you are teaching children” [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teaching children differs from teaching a subject; it requires nurturing and guiding young minds rather than delivering content. **In simple terms:** Teaching kids is about guidance, not just subject matter. Key Takeaway Focus on mentorship over curriculum. Themes education mentorship child development Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - Classroom - parenting - after-school programs Key Concepts Pedagogy developmental psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance subject expertise with child mentorship? - What strategies foster genuine learning in children? A Different Perspective Teaching children requires patience and adaptability, not just expertise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Teaching children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching-children/) ## Related quotes > [Television is basically teaching whether you want it to or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-henson/television-is-basically-teaching-whether-you-want-it-to-or-not/) [Jim Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-henson/) > [There is something particularly appealing about teaching a subject that seems to deal with the lowest kind of relationships-accidents, ambulance chasing-because you can show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guido-calabresi/there-is-something-particularly-appealing-about-teaching-a-subject/) Guido Calabresi > [“Today they are teaching the subject of art as a frill in school, partly due to intellectual preciousness that has crept into art departments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-sjoquist/today-they-are-teaching-the-subject-of-art-as-a-frill-in-school/) [Theresa Sjoquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-sjoquist/) > [For me, teaching is about weaving a web of connectedness between myself, my students, the subject I'm teaching, and the larger world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/for-me-teaching-is-about-weaving-a-web-of-connectedness-between/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [At its deepest level, I think teaching is about bringing people into communion with each other, with yourself as the teacher, and with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/at-its-deepest-level-i-think-teaching-is-about-bringing-people-into/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [How do we teach a child our own, or those in a classroom to have compassion: to allow people to be different; to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/how-do-we-teach-a-child-our-own-or-those-in-a-classroom-to-have/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“We try so hard to instruct our children in all the right things―teaching good from bad, explaining choices and consequences―when in reality most lessons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/we-try-so-hard-to-instruct-our-children-in-all-the-right-things/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [No teaching is equal, more spiritually rewarding, or more exalting than that of a mother teaching her children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/no-teaching-is-equal-more-spiritually-rewarding-or-more-exalting-than/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [Teaching children the joy of honest labor is one of the greatest of all gifts you can bestow upon them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/teaching-children-the-joy-of-honest-labor-is-one-of-the-greatest-of/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/i-can-be-a-tool-of-torture-or-an-instrument-of-inspiration-i-can/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [“When teaching children with autism we must be quick to adapt, follow our instinct and go off plan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele-devine/when-teaching-children-with-autism-we-must-be-quick-to-adapt-follow/) [Adele Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele-devine/) > [Everyday classroom teaching is not what children will remember, but how you made a difference in their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/everyday-classroom-teaching-is-not-what-children-will-remember-but/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [The weekend is all about teaching the children life skills and getting them out in all weathers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-torode/the-weekend-is-all-about-teaching-the-children-life-skills-and/) [John Torode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-torode/) > [The arts teach children that problems can have more than one solution and that questions can have more than one answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliot-w-eisner/the-arts-teach-children-that-problems-can-have-more-than-one-solution/) [Elliot W. Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliot-w-eisner/) > [Teaching children about the natural world should be seen as one of the most important events in their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-berry/teaching-children-about-the-natural-world-should-be-seen-as-one-of/) [Thomas Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-berry/) ## More by Madeleine L'Engle > [“One of the hardest lessons I have to learn is how not to be judgmental about people who are judgmental. When I see how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/one-of-the-hardest-lessons-i-have-to-learn-is-how-not-to-be/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Inspiration more often comes during the work than before it, because the largest part of the job of an artist is to listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/inspiration-more-often-comes-during-the-work-than-before-it-because/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/you-have-to-write-the-book-that-wants-to-be-written-and-if-the-book/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Severe illness isolates those in close contact with it, because it inevitably narrows the focus of concern. To a certain extent this can lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/severe-illness-isolates-those-in-close-contact-with-it-because-it/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Goodness has never been a guarantee of safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/goodness-has-never-been-a-guarantee-of-safety/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Faith is what makes life bearable, with all its tragedies and ambiguities and sudden, startling joys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/faith-is-what-makes-life-bearable-with-all-its-tragedies-and/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Instead of rejoicing in this glorious “impossible” which gives meaning and dignity to our lives, we try to domesticate God, to make his mighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/instead-of-rejoicing-in-this-glorious-impossible-which-gives-meaning/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [I have never lived before...Until this summer, I did not know what it was to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-have-never-lived-before-until-this-summer-i-did-not-know-what-it/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [On the other side of pain, there is still love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/on-the-other-side-of-pain-there-is-still-love/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“To love is to be vulnerable; and it is only in vulnerability and risk—not safety and security—that we overcome darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/to-love-is-to-be-vulnerable-and-it-is-only-in-vulnerability-and-risk/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“IT was the most horrible, the most repellent thing she had ever seen, far more nauseating then anything she had ever imagined with her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/it-was-the-most-horrible-the-most-repellent-thing-she-had-ever-seen/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [I feel as though I'm not breathing when I'm out of his presence. He's the oxygen in my air, the sun in my universe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-feel-as-though-i-m-not-breathing-when-i-m-out-of-his-presence-he-s/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Rather than feeling lost and unimportant and meaningless, set against galaxies which go beyond the reach of the furthest telescopes, I feel that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/rather-than-feeling-lost-and-unimportant-and-meaningless-set-against/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [My husband is my most ruthless critic... sometimes he will say, 'It's been said better before.' Of course it has. It's all been said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/my-husband-is-my-most-ruthless-critic-sometimes-he-will-say-it-s-been/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [If we aren't capable of being hurt we aren't capable of feeling joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/if-we-aren-t-capable-of-being-hurt-we-aren-t-capable-of-feeling-joy/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) [Explore all 660 Madeleine L'Engle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You've got to accept the fact that you are basically not teaching a subject, you are teaching children", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Madeleine L'Engle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/you-ve-got-to-accept-the-fact-that-you-are-basically-not-teaching-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/you-ve-got-to-accept-the-fact-that-you-are-basically-not-teaching-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/madeleine-l-engle-345_accepting_you-ve-got-to-accept-the-fact-that-you-a_2944795.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/madeleine-l-engle-345_accepting_you-ve-got-to-accept-the-fact-that-you-a_2944795.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/madeleine-l-engle-345_accepting_you-ve-got-to-accept-the-fact-that-you-a_2944795.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You've got to accept the fact that you are basically not teaching a subject, you are teaching children” — Madeleine L'Engle", "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": "Madeleine L'Engle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You've got to accept the fact...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/you-ve-got-to-accept-the-fact-that-you-are-basically-not-teaching-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/you-ve-got-to-accept-the-fact-that-you-are-basically-not-teaching-a/#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 } } ] } ```