--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good teaching must be slow enough so that…" description: "\"Good teaching must be slow enough so that it is not confusing, and fast enough so that it is not boring.\" — Sydney J. Harris" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/sydney-j-harris-1578_boring_good-teaching-must-be-slow-enough-so-tha_3224352.png" --- # Good teaching must be slow enough so that it is not… ![“Good teaching must be slow enough so that it is not confusing, and fast enough so that it is not boring.” quote by Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/sydney-j-harris-1578_boring_good-teaching-must-be-slow-enough-so-tha_3224352.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/sydney-j-harris-1578_boring_good-teaching-must-be-slow-enough-so-tha_3224352.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/sydney-j-harris-1578_boring_good-teaching-must-be-slow-enough-so-tha_3224352.png) > “Good teaching must be slow enough so that it is not confusing, and fast enough so that it is not boring.” [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective instruction balances clarity and engagement, avoiding confusion and boredom alike. **In simple terms:** Teach clearly but keep interest. Key Takeaway Find the right pacing. Themes education communication engagement Mood thoughtful balanced Type didactic inspirational When to use this quote - classroom teaching - online courses - workshop facilitation Key Concepts pedagogy attention span learning theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you gauge student comprehension? - What signals indicate loss of interest? A Different Perspective Too much speed can overwhelm; too little can disengage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boring/) [Confusing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusing/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-teaching/) [Slow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slow/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Teaching Slow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching-slow-4147887/) ## Related quotes > [The old ways of teaching are slow and expensive. But with mobile, cost plummets, access broadens, and pedagogy rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-saylor/the-old-ways-of-teaching-are-slow-and-expensive-but-with-mobile-cost/) [Michael J. Saylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-saylor/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [But as Nature is the best guide, teaching must be the development of natural inclinations, for which purpose the teacher must watch his pupil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/but-as-nature-is-the-best-guide-teaching-must-be-the-development-of/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Teaching, like any truly human activity, emerges from one's inwardness, for better or worse. As I teach I project the condition of my soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/teaching-like-any-truly-human-activity-emerges-from-one-s-inwardness/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [If I hadn't been an actor, I would have been a coach, and I would have been a good one. All teaching is is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/if-i-hadn-t-been-an-actor-i-would-have-been-a-coach-and-i-would-have/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [“Teach them to understand biblical principles before converting them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/teach-them-to-understand-biblical-principles-before-converting-them/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-godwin/good-teaching-is-one-fourth-preparation-and-three-fourths-theater/) [Gail Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-godwin/) > [Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is-2/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“I was struck by how out of sync the Common Core is with what I consider to be good teaching.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-marselle/i-was-struck-by-how-out-of-sync-the-common-core-is-with-what-i/) [Terry Marselle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-marselle/) > [If you cannot explain it simply, you do not understand it enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/if-you-cannot-explain-it-simply-you-do-not-understand-it-enough/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“A good teaching technique is fine, but there is no substitute for knowing more than the students know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-baranek/a-good-teaching-technique-is-fine-but-there-is-no-substitute-for/) [Dave Baranek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-baranek/) > [Teachers open the door ... you enter by yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/teachers-open-the-door-you-enter-by-yourself/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The thing with music education is that it is good at teaching technique, but not texture. You only learn about that from listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/the-thing-with-music-education-is-that-it-is-good-at-teaching/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [In the modern university, no act of good teaching goes unpunished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sykes/in-the-modern-university-no-act-of-good-teaching-goes-unpunished/) [Charlie Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sykes/) > [“Leadership is communicating people’s worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves.” Is that not also the essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/leadership-is-communicating-people-s-worth-and-potential-so-clearly/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) ## More by Sydney J. Harris > [This is a lesson mankind has not yet learned. We identify, and stratify, and treat persons largely on the basis of their accidental (physical)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/this-is-a-lesson-mankind-has-not-yet-learned-we-identify-and-stratify/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Character is something you forge for yourself; temperament is something you are born with and can only slightly modify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/character-is-something-you-forge-for-yourself-temperament-is/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Middle Age is that perplexing time of life when we hear two voices calling us, one saying, 'Why not?' and the other, 'Why bother?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/middle-age-is-that-perplexing-time-of-life-when-we-hear-two-voices/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [The profound immoralities of our time are cruelty, indifference, injustice and the use of others as means rather than ends in themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-profound-immoralities-of-our-time-are-cruelty-indifference/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Marriages we regard as the happiest are those in which each of the partners believes he or she got the best of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/marriages-we-regard-as-the-happiest-are-those-in-which-each-of-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“...it calls for deciding things on their own merit, not because you read it or were told it or grew up believing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/it-calls-for-deciding-things-on-their-own-merit-not-because-you-read/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Ignorance per se is not nearly as dangerous as ignorance of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/ignorance-per-se-is-not-nearly-as-dangerous-as-ignorance-of-ignorance/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/patriotism-is-proud-of-a-country-s-virtues-and-eager-to-correct-its/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past, his is also one who is permanently disappointed in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/a-cynic-is-not-merely-one-who-reads-bitter-lessons-from-the-past-his/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Time is love, above all else. It is the most precious commodity in the world and should be lavished on those we care most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/time-is-love-above-all-else-it-is-the-most-precious-commodity-in-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Just about the only interruption we don't object to is applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/just-about-the-only-interruption-we-don-t-object-to-is-applause/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“The cynic is goodhearted beneath his facade, whereas the sentimentalist is flint-hearted beneath his.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-cynic-is-goodhearted-beneath-his-facade-whereas-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Any philosophy that can be put in a nutshell belongs there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/any-philosophy-that-can-be-put-in-a-nutshell-belongs-there/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“Like all persecuted minority groups, they strike back by forming cabals, by “taking over” certain spheres of activity (in the arts, for instance), and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/like-all-persecuted-minority-groups-they-strike-back-by-forming/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Intolerance is the most socially acceptable form of egotism, for it permits us to assume superiority without personal boasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/intolerance-is-the-most-socially-acceptable-form-of-egotism-for-it/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) [Explore all 226 Sydney J. Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) ## More Boring quotes > [Normal is so Boring!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/normal-is-so-boring/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't want easy success. It's boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudeep/i-don-t-want-easy-success-it-s-boring/) [Sudeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudeep/) > [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. Because it comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-word-mundane-has-come-to-mean-boring-and-dull-and-it-really/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Life is what you make it¦If one refuses to use ones imagination..it will be boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-what-you-make-it-if-one-refuses-to-use-ones-imagination-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I had sort of had a 21st birthday when I was 17, 18 years old living in Japan. I had all of that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wright/i-had-sort-of-had-a-21st-birthday-when-i-was-17-18-years-old-living/) [Sarah Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wright/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I'm bored of being bored because being bored is very boring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachithra/i-m-bored-of-being-bored-because-being-bored-is-very-boring/) [Sachithra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachithra/) > [The films I find boring are the ones that have no space for the audience's misconceptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-decker/the-films-i-find-boring-are-the-ones-that-have-no-space-for-the/) [Josephine Decker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-decker/) > [It is an interesting law of romance that a truly strong woman will choose a strong man who disagrees with her over a weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-is-an-interesting-law-of-romance-that-a-truly-strong-woman-will/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I've always felt that dark lyrics with dark music is pretty useless. Maybe that's a strong statement - not useless, but for me, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bird/i-ve-always-felt-that-dark-lyrics-with-dark-music-is-pretty-useless/) [Andrew Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bird/) > [Something is wrong if workers do not look around each day, find things that are tedious or boring, and then rewrite the procedures. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/something-is-wrong-if-workers-do-not-look-around-each-day-find-things/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [Plumbing is usually boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/plumbing-is-usually-boring/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If still boring, then eight. Then sixteen. Then thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/if-something-is-boring-after-two-minutes-try-it-for-four-if-still/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [Acting is an escape from the boring person that I am in real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/acting-is-an-escape-from-the-boring-person-that-i-am-in-real-life/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) [Browse all 3,123 Boring quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boring/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Good teaching must be slow enough so that it is not confusing, and fast enough so that it is not boring.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sydney J. 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