--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I spend quite a bit of time thinking…" description: "\"I spend quite a bit of time thinking about my students. I look at them, at their work, I listen to what they tell me, and try to figure out who they mi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/phoebe-gloeckner-27831_clue_i-spend-quite-a-bit-of-time-thinking-abo_239732.png" --- # I spend quite a bit of time thinking about my students. I… ![“I spend quite a bit of time thinking about my students. I look at them, at their work, I listen to what they tell me, and try to figure out who they might become in the best of all possible worlds. This is not easy. Students try to give you clues; sometimes they look at you as if imploring you to…” quote by Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/phoebe-gloeckner-27831_clue_i-spend-quite-a-bit-of-time-thinking-abo_239732.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/phoebe-gloeckner-27831_clue_i-spend-quite-a-bit-of-time-thinking-abo_239732.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/phoebe-gloeckner-27831_clue_i-spend-quite-a-bit-of-time-thinking-abo_239732.png) > “I spend quite a bit of time thinking about my students. I look at them, at their work, I listen to what they tell me, and try to figure out who they might become in the best of all possible worlds. This is not easy. Students try to give you clues; sometimes they look at you as if imploring you to understand something about them that they don't yet have the means to articulate. How can one succeed at this? And how can one do it 20 times over for all the students in a class? It's impossible, of course. I know this, but I try anyway. It's tiring.” [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding students requires deep listening and imagination, despite its difficulty. **In simple terms:** Teachers must empathize and envision students' futures. Key Takeaway Practice attentive, imaginative listening. Themes education empathy vision Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - classroom mentorship - career counseling - personal development Key Concepts psychology pedagogy identity formation Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance effort and realism? - What signs indicate a student’s hidden potential? A Different Perspective It’s impossible to fully know every student; limits exist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tire/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I tell my students to try early in life to find an unattainable objective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/i-tell-my-students-to-try-early-in-life-to-find-an-unattainable/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [I believe that over 90 percent of LU students try hard to comply with the behavioral code and are supportive of the school's mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-falwell-jr/i-believe-that-over-90-percent-of-lu-students-try-hard-to-comply-with/) [Jerry Falwell, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-falwell-jr/) > [I'll have my students try to follow their minds during the course of a day, just to see the way their minds work, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-ll-have-my-students-try-to-follow-their-minds-during-the-course-of/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [In some of the classes, especially the introductory religion courses I took, the professors can veer into a particular strain of religious anti-intellectualism. Professors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-roose/in-some-of-the-classes-especially-the-introductory-religion-courses-i/) [Kevin Roose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-roose/) > [“Options for Debriefing: Create a class anchor chart that synthesizes thinking that students will need to go back to over time. Ask students to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-tovani/options-for-debriefing-create-a-class-anchor-chart-that-synthesizes/) [Cris Tovani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-tovani/) > [The only teaching that a professor can give, in my opinion, is that of thinking in front of his students.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-lebesgue/the-only-teaching-that-a-professor-can-give-in-my-opinion-is-that-of/) [Henri Lebesgue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-lebesgue/) > [I believe that the greatest teachers create thinking students.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-f-swensen/i-believe-that-the-greatest-teachers-create-thinking-students/) [David F. Swensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-f-swensen/) > [I know I learn a lot from the students in my class and I'm not just saying that to sound like some generous teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-dubus/i-know-i-learn-a-lot-from-the-students-in-my-class-and-i-m-not-just/) [Andre Dubus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-dubus/) > [That's who comes to my workshops. I jokingly tell my students that the class could be called "Your photographs: Better."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-abell/that-s-who-comes-to-my-workshops-i-jokingly-tell-my-students-that-the/) [Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-abell/) > [The only thing that happens when I'm teaching is that I hope there are some students out there in the class who will ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/the-only-thing-that-happens-when-i-m-teaching-is-that-i-hope-there/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) > [“He was the Teacher, the world was his students, and class was about to begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/he-was-the-teacher-the-world-was-his-students-and-class-was-about-to/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Students have no class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-dangoor/students-have-no-class/) [Robert D Dangoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-dangoor/) > [Teaching was my transition from student life to working life. In those days, our system of education was a little different. The number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pranab-mukherjee/teaching-was-my-transition-from-student-life-to-working-life-in-those/) [Pranab Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pranab-mukherjee/) > [How to tell students what to look for without telling them what to see is the dilemma of teaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lascelles-abercrombie/how-to-tell-students-what-to-look-for-without-telling-them-what-to/) [Lascelles Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lascelles-abercrombie/) > [One of the things that I have my students do is to take a look at English-language newspapers from all around the world in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-soetoro-ng/one-of-the-things-that-i-have-my-students-do-is-to-take-a-look-at/) [Maya Soetoro-Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-soetoro-ng/) ## More by Phoebe Gloeckner > [Underground comics were striking in that they seemed largely unedited - in a typical book, with stories by five to ten creators, some stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-gloeckner/underground-comics-were-striking-in-that-they-seemed-largely-unedited/) [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) > [I'd describe my inner life as constantly vigilant, always ready to flee or respond with violence. I've felt this way since I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-gloeckner/i-d-describe-my-inner-life-as-constantly-vigilant-always-ready-to/) [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) > [“I haven’t been disingenuous in what I’ve said describing my perception of “truth” and “reality.” Certainly, I understand what is generally meant to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-gloeckner/i-haven-t-been-disingenuous-in-what-i-ve-said-describing-my/) [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) > [I don't think it's possible to teach a person to be an artist. But yet, I'm here, and I suppose this is what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-gloeckner/i-don-t-think-it-s-possible-to-teach-a-person-to-be-an-artist-but-yet/) [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) > [Comics are a "young" art form, and there is much confusion as to how to treat them. Images have more immediate impact than words,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-gloeckner/comics-are-a-young-art-form-and-there-is-much-confusion-as-to-how-to/) [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) > [I didn't struggle to find my style - I prefer to call it "voice," because I think the word is more suggestive of complexity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-gloeckner/i-didn-t-struggle-to-find-my-style-i-prefer-to-call-it-voice-because/) [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) > [A character does seem to have a life of its own, but I have what I'd describe as a very fluid relationship with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-gloeckner/a-character-does-seem-to-have-a-life-of-its-own-but-i-have-what-i-d/) [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) > [I am aware of existing in a nearly constant state of inner turmoil and argument. I become frustrated with my work when the solution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-gloeckner/i-am-aware-of-existing-in-a-nearly-constant-state-of-inner-turmoil/) [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) > [It always seems to people that I'm avoiding saying, 'It's autobiographical,' but I really do believe that human beings make stories and they make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-gloeckner/it-always-seems-to-people-that-i-m-avoiding-saying-it-s/) [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) > [I don't like to be constrained to any one medium. I like to surprise and amuse - and indeed, torture - myself by weaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-gloeckner/i-don-t-like-to-be-constrained-to-any-one-medium-i-like-to-surprise/) [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) > [Underground comics were produced by individuals - they were the auteur variety, rather than the production-line sort of comic book aimed at pleasing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-gloeckner/underground-comics-were-produced-by-individuals-they-were-the-auteur/) [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) > [Most comics are not truly rebellious or creatively free. Most comics, paintings, music, etc., are derivative of other, more successful works. And it's quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-gloeckner/most-comics-are-not-truly-rebellious-or-creatively-free-most-comics/) [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) > [Whatever they are, can Comics be "Art"? Of course they can. The "Art" in a piece is something independent of genre, form, or material.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-gloeckner/whatever-they-are-can-comics-be-art-of-course-they-can-the-art-in-a/) [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) > [Oddly enough, I suppose, I don't give much thought to my style, and I don't attempt to be consistent - except within a story.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-gloeckner/oddly-enough-i-suppose-i-don-t-give-much-thought-to-my-style-and-i/) [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) > [It's much better for an artist to know everything than to be limited by ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-gloeckner/it-s-much-better-for-an-artist-to-know-everything-than-to-be-limited/) [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) [Explore all 20 Phoebe Gloeckner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) ## More Clue quotes > [If people in Indonesia look 'different', they are afraid. Racist insults fly if someone does not look like part of the majority. Indonesia is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-vltchek/if-people-in-indonesia-look-different-they-are-afraid-racist-insults/) [Andre Vltchek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-vltchek/) > [There's too many people in seats of power who just haven't got a clue what they're doing. They're bean counters, and it just pisses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/there-s-too-many-people-in-seats-of-power-who-just-haven-t-got-a-clue/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [Think you figured it out, but you don't have a clue. Think you on top of the world, but the world on top of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-jeezy/think-you-figured-it-out-but-you-don-t-have-a-clue-think-you-on-top/) [Young Jeezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-jeezy/) > [Having people around you that are honest with you, and having a team around you that can actually track and communicate where things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muneshine/having-people-around-you-that-are-honest-with-you-and-having-a-team/) [Muneshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muneshine/) > [If you jump to conclusion you can't step on a clue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-santinello/if-you-jump-to-conclusion-you-can-t-step-on-a-clue/) [James Santinello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-santinello/) > [If I wasn't acting, I have no clue what I'd be doing 'cause I have no other talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/if-i-wasn-t-acting-i-have-no-clue-what-i-d-be-doing-cause-i-have-no/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [I come from a theater background, so I always like to dissect the scene and try to get some hint about what the author…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adina-porter/i-come-from-a-theater-background-so-i-always-like-to-dissect-the/) [Adina Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adina-porter/) > [The truth is, I don't have a real clue what love is - how to find it, how to give it. Once upon a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/the-truth-is-i-don-t-have-a-real-clue-what-love-is-how-to-find-it-how/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [Arthur Conan Doyle was entranced by the notion of a brilliant detective who can deduce everything a stranger has been up to from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-yglesias/arthur-conan-doyle-was-entranced-by-the-notion-of-a-brilliant/) [Rafael Yglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-yglesias/) > [Talking about the future, like we had a clue. Never plans that one day, I'd be losing you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/talking-about-the-future-like-we-had-a-clue-never-plans-that-one-day/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [Make something, a kind of object, which as it changes or falls apart (dies as it were) or increases in its parts (grows as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/make-something-a-kind-of-object-which-as-it-changes-or-falls-apart/) [Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/) > [Dreamily the Princess stood up. "I'm not sure if I can walk," she said. "Then I'll carry you." "Is that what love is?" "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/dreamily-the-princess-stood-up-i-m-not-sure-if-i-can-walk-she-said/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Out past the cornfields where the woods got heavy, out in the back seat of my '60 Chevy. Workin' on mysteries without any clues,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/out-past-the-cornfields-where-the-woods-got-heavy-out-in-the-back/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [Personal happiness seems mysteriously and frustratingly elusive. Even when people achieve it, they can't hold onto it. That is the greatest clue, the biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/personal-happiness-seems-mysteriously-and-frustratingly-elusive-even/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [Ask yourself what you would do even if you were never paid. That’s a clue to what you should be doing and of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-vitale/ask-yourself-what-you-would-do-even-if-you-were-never-paid-that-s-a/) [Joe Vitale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-vitale/) Browse all 627 Clue quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I spend quite a bit of time thinking about my students. I look at them, at their work, I listen to what they tell me, and try to figure out who they might become in the best of all possible worlds. This is not easy. Students try to give you clues; sometimes they look at you as if imploring you to understand something about them that they don't yet have the means to articulate. How can one succeed at this? And how can one do it 20 times over for all the students in a class? It's impossible, of course. I know this, but I try anyway. 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