--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True teachers are those who use…" description: "\"True teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross; then, having facilitated their crossing, joyfully..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_bridges_true-teachers-are-those-who-use-themselv_419772.jpg" --- # True teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over… ![“True teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross; then, having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create their own.” quote by Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_bridges_true-teachers-are-those-who-use-themselv_419772.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_bridges_true-teachers-are-those-who-use-themselv_419772.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_bridges_true-teachers-are-those-who-use-themselv_419772.jpg) > “True teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross; then, having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create their own.” [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teachers should guide students, then step back so they can develop independence and confidence. **In simple terms:** Guide, then let go. Key Takeaway Empower learners to stand alone. Themes education mentorship independence Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - classroom teaching - coaching sessions - leadership training Key Concepts pedagogy self-efficacy growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance support and autonomy? - When is the right moment to step back? A Different Perspective If teachers never withdraw, students may remain dependent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) [Collapse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collapse/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Crosses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crosses/) [Crossings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crossings/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Mentorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentorship/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Students Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students-cross-3224135/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachers/) [Teachers Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachers-use-1572886/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) [True teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-teacher/) [True Teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-teachers-3224134/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-bridges-3723709/) ## Related quotes > [True teachers use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross; then, having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/true-teachers-use-themselves-as-bridges-over-which-they-invite-their/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“Ideal teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross, then having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/ideal-teachers-are-those-who-use-themselves-as-bridges-over-which/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [True teachers not only impart knowledge and method but awaken the love of learning by their own reflected love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-grudin/true-teachers-not-only-impart-knowledge-and-method-but-awaken-the/) [Robert Grudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-grudin/) > [True teachers of enlightenment are hard to find. The popular ones, of course, usually aren't enlightened because how could they be? They just tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/true-teachers-of-enlightenment-are-hard-to-find-the-popular-ones-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The true teachers are those who help us think for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/the-true-teachers-are-those-who-help-us-think-for-ourselves/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [Here, let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true: Teachers? Teachers make a difference! Now what about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-mali/here-let-me-break-it-down-for-you-so-you-know-what-i-say-is-true/) [Taylor Mali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-mali/) > [“Research suggests that teachers who use more progressive or project-based learning techniques are more satisfied in their roles than teachers who use traditional instructional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-libow-martinez/research-suggests-that-teachers-who-use-more-progressive-or-project/) [Sylvia Libow Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-libow-martinez/) > [What you feel like when the teachers use your name as an example oh stop it you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaylee/what-you-feel-like-when-the-teachers-use-your-name-as-an-example-oh/) [Kaylee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaylee/) > [Teachers can use technology-based assessments to inform their instruction. These assessments can quickly produce data and surface patterns that help teachers identify where students…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/teachers-can-use-technology-based-assessments-to-inform-their/) [Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/) > [I always set out to tell a good story, to create a character that young people can relate to, place them in a situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/i-always-set-out-to-tell-a-good-story-to-create-a-character-that/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [Books for children get into schools. Committed teachers use books like mine alongside films, non-fiction and fiction to help children investigate and understand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rosen/books-for-children-get-into-schools-committed-teachers-use-books-like/) [Michael Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rosen/) > [I think that there are some teachers that do a very good job of incorporating culture and history. And there are some teachers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-that-there-are-some-teachers-that-do-a-very-good-job-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Television didn't transform education. Neither will the internet. But it will be another tool for teachers to use in their effort to reach students…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-palfrey/television-didn-t-transform-education-neither-will-the-internet-but/) [John Palfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-palfrey/) > [The true teacher is within us. A good teacher is someone who can help you to go back and touch the true teacher within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-true-teacher-is-within-us-a-good-teacher-is-someone-who-can-help/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [A true teacher should penetrate to whatever is vital in his pupil, and develop that by the light and heat of his own intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/a-true-teacher-should-penetrate-to-whatever-is-vital-in-his-pupil-and/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) ## More by Nikos Kazantzakis > [“We gaze with perplexity at the highest part of the spiral of force that governs the Universe. And we call it God. We could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/we-gaze-with-perplexity-at-the-highest-part-of-the-spiral-of-force/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [I collect my tools: sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing, intellect. Night has fallen...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-collect-my-tools-sight-smell-touch-taste-hearing-intellect-night/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Everything in this world has a hidden meaning, I thought. Men, animals, trees, stars, they are all hieroglyphics; woe to anyone who begins to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/everything-in-this-world-has-a-hidden-meaning-i-thought-men-animals/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Good Lord, how can the rich bear to die?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/good-lord-how-can-the-rich-bear-to-die/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“Religion is opium for the masses”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/religion-is-opium-for-the-masses/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [I possess no weapon but love. With that I have come to do battle. Help me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-possess-no-weapon-but-love-with-that-i-have-come-to-do-battle-help/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Today, any action anywhere on earth has an immediate repercussion on all five continents. News of a victory of the Eastern armies in Morocco…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/today-any-action-anywhere-on-earth-has-an-immediate-repercussion-on/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“The Lord preserve us from sainthood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/the-lord-preserve-us-from-sainthood/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“You have everything but one thing: madness. A man needs a little madness or else - he never dares cut the rope and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/you-have-everything-but-one-thing-madness-a-man-needs-a-little/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“A man needs a little madness, or else... he never dares cut the rope and be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/a-man-needs-a-little-madness-or-else-he-never-dares-cut-the-rope-and/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [There's a devil inside me which cries, "You're not the son of the Carpenter, you're the son of King David! You are not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/there-s-a-devil-inside-me-which-cries-you-re-not-the-son-of-the/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Lions and Lambs, love and force, light and fire, good and evil: all things climb the same mountain, the mountain of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/lions-and-lambs-love-and-force-light-and-fire-good-and-evil-all/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [I say one thing, you write another, and those who read you understand still something else! I say: cross, death, kingdom of heaven, God...and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-say-one-thing-you-write-another-and-those-who-read-you-understand/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“No, you're not free," he said. "The string you're tied to is perhaps no longer than other people's. That's all. You're on a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/no-you-re-not-free-he-said-the-string-you-re-tied-to-is-perhaps-no/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [The masses do not see the Sirens. They do not hear songs in the air. Blind, deaf, stooping, they pull at their oars in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/the-masses-do-not-see-the-sirens-they-do-not-hear-songs-in-the-air/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) [Explore all 275 Nikos Kazantzakis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) ## More Bridges quotes > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [In my rear view mirror the sun is going down sinking behind bridges in the road and I think of all the good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/in-my-rear-view-mirror-the-sun-is-going-down-sinking-behind-bridges/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [My first big mistake was made when, in a moment of weakness, I consented to learn the game; for a man who can frankly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/my-first-big-mistake-was-made-when-in-a-moment-of-weakness-i/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you walk, try to think nothing! You can then obtain the silence of a streetlight or a bridge; stop thinking; after that, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-you-walk-try-to-think-nothing-you-can-then-obtain-the-silence-of/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [By the time they were pulling into the parking lot of the A&P, the mood was fading, the moment gone. Amy could feel it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/by-the-time-they-were-pulling-into-the-parking-lot-of-the-a-p-the/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [Al Pacino and Jeff Bridges do it for me in a big way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-scanlon/al-pacino-and-jeff-bridges-do-it-for-me-in-a-big-way/) [Angela Scanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-scanlon/) > [Instead of building castles against your enemies, build bridges for them to come to you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/instead-of-building-castles-against-your-enemies-build-bridges-for/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Instead of finding himself in nerd heaven—where every nerd gets fifty-eight virgins to role-play with—he woke up in Robert Wood Johnson with two broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/instead-of-finding-himself-in-nerd-heaven-where-every-nerd-gets-fifty/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Each person is an island unto himself, in a very real sense; and he can only build bridges to other islands if he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/each-person-is-an-island-unto-himself-in-a-very-real-sense-and-he-can/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [The real test of a bridge player isn’t in keeping out of trouble, but in escaping once he’s in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-sheinwold/the-real-test-of-a-bridge-player-isn-t-in-keeping-out-of-trouble-but/) [Alfred Sheinwold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-sheinwold/) > [The law ... allows rich as well as poor to sleep under bridges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/the-law-allows-rich-as-well-as-poor-to-sleep-under-bridges/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [Guys like Todd Bridges never overcame being a child star. You can't have any big failures. I've always felt regular. I played organized ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bow-wow/guys-like-todd-bridges-never-overcame-being-a-child-star-you-can-t/) [Bow Wow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bow-wow/) [Browse all 1,521 Bridges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "True teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross; then, having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create their own.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nikos Kazantzakis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/true-teachers-are-those-who-use-themselves-as-bridges-over-which-they/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bridges" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/true-teachers-are-those-who-use-themselves-as-bridges-over-which-they/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_bridges_true-teachers-are-those-who-use-themselv_419772.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_bridges_true-teachers-are-those-who-use-themselv_419772.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_bridges_true-teachers-are-those-who-use-themselv_419772.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“True teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross; then…” — Nikos Kazantzakis", "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": "Nikos Kazantzakis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "True teachers are those who use...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/true-teachers-are-those-who-use-themselves-as-bridges-over-which-they/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/true-teachers-are-those-who-use-themselves-as-bridges-over-which-they/#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 } } ] } ```