--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are really only two ways to teach…" description: "\"There are really only two ways to teach. You can inspire the student to voluntarily and enthusiastically choose to do the hard work necessary to get a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/oliver-demille-10552_education_there-are-really-only-two-ways-to-teach_5371.png" --- # There are really only two ways to teach. You can inspire… ![“There are really only two ways to teach. You can inspire the student to voluntarily and enthusiastically choose to do the hard work necessary to get a great education, or you can attempt to require it of him.” quote by Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/oliver-demille-10552_education_there-are-really-only-two-ways-to-teach_5371.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/oliver-demille-10552_education_there-are-really-only-two-ways-to-teach_5371.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/oliver-demille-10552_education_there-are-really-only-two-ways-to-teach_5371.png) > “There are really only two ways to teach. You can inspire the student to voluntarily and enthusiastically choose to do the hard work necessary to get a great education, or you can attempt to require it of him.” [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teaching hinges on either fostering intrinsic motivation or imposing external mandates; the former leads to engaged learning, the latter often breeds resistance. **In simple terms:** Motivation vs. coercion Key Takeaway Inspire, don’t force Themes Motivation Pedagogy Student autonomy Engagement Resistance Learning outcomes Mood Hopeful Determined Reflective Type Advice Philosophical When to use this quote - Designing curriculum - Mentoring apprentices - Corporate training - Parenting - Coaching athletes Key Concepts Intrinsic motivation Extrinsic pressure Voluntary effort Educational design Practical Applications - Develop self‑directed learning programs - Create environments that spark curiosity Questions to Reflect On - What conditions make students choose effort willingly? - How can educators balance guidance with freedom? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Great education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-education/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) ## Related quotes > [At it's highest level, the purpose of teaching is not to teach—it is to inspire the desire for learning. Once a student's mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/at-it-s-highest-level-the-purpose-of-teaching-is-not-to-teach-it-is/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Art is something you can't teach, but you can inspire it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-al-bengston/art-is-something-you-can-t-teach-but-you-can-inspire-it/) [Billy Al Bengston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-al-bengston/) > [“There are only three ways to teach a child. The first is by example, the second is by example, the third is by example.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/there-are-only-three-ways-to-teach-a-child-the-first-is-by-example/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Example is not one of the best ways to teach. It is the only way to teach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/example-is-not-one-of-the-best-ways-to-teach-it-is-the-only-way-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For me there are many ways to teach; it doesn't have to be at a university. I might be a teaching assistant for one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/for-me-there-are-many-ways-to-teach-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-at-a/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [We can best help children learn, not by deciding what we think they should learn and thinking of ingenious ways to teach it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-holt/we-can-best-help-children-learn-not-by-deciding-what-we-think-they/) [John Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-holt/) > [Find a model of great education in history and you will find a great teacher who inspired students to make the hard choice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/find-a-model-of-great-education-in-history-and-you-will-find-a-great/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [“Great education defies structure because it is always (always!) individualized, personalized, interactive, nimble, responsive and inspired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/great-education-defies-structure-because-it-is-always-always/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [I was never told that the purpose of school was to get a job at the end of it. What was pushed on me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/i-was-never-told-that-the-purpose-of-school-was-to-get-a-job-at-the/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > [As a retired educator I have seen first-hand the impact a great education can have on a young person's life. I will always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alma-adams/as-a-retired-educator-i-have-seen-first-hand-the-impact-a-great/) [Alma Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alma-adams/) > [You can't have a sustainable US economy without a great education system. Teach students to do the job right. You don't have an innovative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/you-can-t-have-a-sustainable-us-economy-without-a-great-education/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [But I will say that TV was a great education for me. It allowed me to develop techniques for getting the job done. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/but-i-will-say-that-tv-was-a-great-education-for-me-it-allowed-me-to/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [To be able to be caught up into the world of thought-that is educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/to-be-able-to-be-caught-up-into-the-world-of-thought-that-is-educated/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [I came here from Jamaica as a kid and didn't go to school, really, never had a great education. I was a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-came-here-from-jamaica-as-a-kid-and-didn-t-go-to-school-really/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [That should be the goal, is that every kid in every neighborhood, despite whatever challenges they may face, are getting a great education in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/that-should-be-the-goal-is-that-every-kid-in-every-neighborhood/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) ## More by Oliver DeMille > [Most people spend less than 20 hrs a year learning about freedom, yet many wonder why it's in decline. Don't fight upstream. Instead, turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/most-people-spend-less-than-20-hrs-a-year-learning-about-freedom-yet/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [Americans must either choose big government and be willing to pay for and submit to it, or they must move toward smaller, less intrusive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/americans-must-either-choose-big-government-and-be-willing-to-pay-for/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [If Americans are frustrated with Congress, imagine their frustration with a group of international bank officials running our ecomomy-bankers who may not have as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/if-americans-are-frustrated-with-congress-imagine-their-frustration/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [Teachers teach and students educate. Students are the only true educators. Historically, every other method of education has failed. Education occurs when students get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/teachers-teach-and-students-educate-students-are-the-only-true/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [When we let our freedoms slip away without a fight or even without concern, we take freedom, prosperity and happiness away from our posterity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/when-we-let-our-freedoms-slip-away-without-a-fight-or-even-without/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [When you look into the eyes of your children and grandchildren, when you picture their greatness and potential, do you feel that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/when-you-look-into-the-eyes-of-your-children-and-grandchildren-when/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [The most powerful lessons occur where studies intersect with real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/the-most-powerful-lessons-occur-where-studies-intersect-with-real-life/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [“No U.S. president can “fix” education, no law can systematize inspiration, and no amount of funding, policy or resources can structure passion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/no-u-s-president-can-fix-education-no-law-can-systematize-inspiration/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [The problem in modern America is not that an individual can't make a difference, but that nearly all of us are too distracted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/the-problem-in-modern-america-is-not-that-an-individual-can-t-make-a/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [Jefferson, Madison and many others taught that complex laws and codes were sure signs of oppression. They agreed with Montesquieu, Lock and Hume and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/jefferson-madison-and-many-others-taught-that-complex-laws-and-codes/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [Government intervention is not solving the problems, and in fact the governments around the world that are intervening the most in their economies are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/government-intervention-is-not-solving-the-problems-and-in-fact-the/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [Our middle class majority, deeply in personal debt, elects political leaders who increase our benefits. Then we vote them out because we dislike the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/our-middle-class-majority-deeply-in-personal-debt-elects-political/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [“Books are better than television, the internet, or the computer for educating and maintaining freedom. Books matter because they state ideas and then attempt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/books-are-better-than-television-the-internet-or-the-computer-for/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [Indeed, we have reached a level of complexity where simplicity itself is suspect. For example, the simple reality is that jobs migrate to less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/indeed-we-have-reached-a-level-of-complexity-where-simplicity-itself/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [Virtually every subject is most effectively learned directly from the greatest thinkers, historians, artists, philosophers, scientists, prophets and their original works. Great works inspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/virtually-every-subject-is-most-effectively-learned-directly-from-the/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) [Explore all 64 Oliver DeMille quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) ## 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 > [“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 > [“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 > [“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": "There are really only two ways to teach. 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