Business Quote by Robertson Davies
““I liked the company of most of my colleagues, who were about equally divided among good men who were good teachers, awful men who were awful teachers, and the grotesques and misfits who drift into teaching and are so often the most educative influences a boy meets in school. If a boy can't have a good teacher, give him a psychological cripple or an exotic failure to cope with; don't just give him a bad, dull teacher.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Fifth Business, Robertson Davies, 1970
The quote critiques the varied impact teachers have, suggesting that even flawed or unconventional educators can profoundly shape a student's life, sometimes more than standard teachers.
In simple terms: Even bad or odd teachers can be highly influential.
Key Takeaway
Recognize learning from all types of mentors.
Themes
education
influence
diversity
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- school experiences
- career mentorship
- personal development
- learning from adversity
Key Concepts
pedagogy
psychology
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How have unconventional teachers shaped you?
- Can you find value in challenging mentorship?
A Different Perspective
Not all negative influences are beneficial; some may cause lasting harm.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
