--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned early on in teaching how easy…" description: "\"I learned early on in teaching how easy it is to hurt a young person and that's never my intention.\" — Tim Gunn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/tim-gunn-2085_easy_i-learned-early-on-in-teaching-how-easy_1644449.png" --- # I learned early on in teaching how easy it is to hurt a… ![“I learned early on in teaching how easy it is to hurt a young person and that's never my intention.” quote by Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/tim-gunn-2085_easy_i-learned-early-on-in-teaching-how-easy_1644449.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/tim-gunn-2085_easy_i-learned-early-on-in-teaching-how-easy_1644449.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/tim-gunn-2085_easy_i-learned-early-on-in-teaching-how-easy_1644449.png) > “I learned early on in teaching how easy it is to hurt a young person and that's never my intention.” [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teaching young people requires sensitivity because words can unintentionally cause harm. **In simple terms:** Be careful with words around youth. Key Takeaway Speak with empathy. Themes education empathy communication responsibility Mood reflective cautious Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - classroom - mentoring - parenting Key Concepts developmental psychology pedagogy Questions to Reflect On - How do you check the impact of your feedback? - What strategies help repair accidental harm? A Different Perspective Even well‑intended feedback can hurt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Early Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early-teaching-596002/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Hurt Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-young-596004/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Learned Early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-early/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Teaching Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching-easy-596005/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-person/) ## Related quotes > [I found early on in teaching, if you're too blunt an instrument, the students discredit you and think you're just being mean. They're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/i-found-early-on-in-teaching-if-you-re-too-blunt-an-instrument-the/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [The ones that hurt you the most when you're young, will be the ones hurting the most because of their mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-ones-that-hurt-you-the-most-when-you-re-young-will-be-the-ones/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Love, love Love, love, Don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more Young Money yeah uh Ah, throw dirt on me and grow a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem-featuring-lil-wayne/love-love-love-love-don-t-hurt-me-don-t-hurt-me-no-more-young-money/) [Eminem Featuring Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem-featuring-lil-wayne/) > [If teaching were easy, we wouldn't need teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-whitaker/if-teaching-were-easy-we-wouldn-t-need-teachers/) [Todd Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-whitaker/) > [Despite the characterization of some that teaching is an easy job, with short hours and summers off, the fact is that successful, dedicated teachers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-schleicher/despite-the-characterization-of-some-that-teaching-is-an-easy-job/) [Andreas Schleicher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-schleicher/) > [I'd like to give every young teacher some good news. Teaching is a very easy job. Administrators will tell you what to do. You'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/i-d-like-to-give-every-young-teacher-some-good-news-teaching-is-a/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [Often I had to imagine the things I needed. I learned very early to read amidst noise. And so I started writing and drawing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunter-grass/often-i-had-to-imagine-the-things-i-needed-i-learned-very-early-to/) [Gunter Grass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunter-grass/) > [Something I learned very early on in my career is that there are a lot of things that you do not have any power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/something-i-learned-very-early-on-in-my-career-is-that-there-are-a/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I learned early and at that kitchen table that there are ways of avoiding, without guilt, the commitments of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-learned-early-and-at-that-kitchen-table-that-there-are-ways-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I learned early in life that laughter is a great way to diffuse and uncomfortable situation, so I began to use that as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romany-malco/i-learned-early-in-life-that-laughter-is-a-great-way-to-diffuse-and/) [Romany Malco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romany-malco/) > [I learned early that if I wanted to achieve anything in life, I'd have to do it myself. I learned that I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/i-learned-early-that-if-i-wanted-to-achieve-anything-in-life-i-d-have/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [The remoteness of my parents from the schools, so unfashionable today, was often painful for me, but I learned early to deal with an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lewis-perl/the-remoteness-of-my-parents-from-the-schools-so-unfashionable-today/) [Martin Lewis Perl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lewis-perl/) > [I will not go into a story unprepared. I will do my homework, and that's something I learned at an early age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-bradley/i-will-not-go-into-a-story-unprepared-i-will-do-my-homework-and-that/) [Ed Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-bradley/) > [I learned early on from my dad that things can't last forever. I always think about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-hart/i-learned-early-on-from-my-dad-that-things-can-t-last-forever-i/) [Carey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-hart/) > [I learned early on that just because you come from the same blood as someone doesn't mean they are family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakota-meyer/i-learned-early-on-that-just-because-you-come-from-the-same-blood-as/) [Dakota Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakota-meyer/) ## More by Tim Gunn > [We shop out of boredom, for release, for excitement, for a sense of achievement, for a sense of control over our unruly existences. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/we-shop-out-of-boredom-for-release-for-excitement-for-a-sense-of/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [And I'm the first one to tell people to break the rules. But you can only break the rules once you know what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/and-i-m-the-first-one-to-tell-people-to-break-the-rules-but-you-can/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [I learned quickly that if the student’s perception is that you’re not listening to them, and not understanding them, they discredit you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/i-learned-quickly-that-if-the-student-s-perception-is-that-you-re-not/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [Success needs to be measured according to the ambitions and the resources of each designer. And many aren't interested in being a megabrand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/success-needs-to-be-measured-according-to-the-ambitions-and-the/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [But I will add, there's one thing I will not do, ever: I will never talk to you about things you cannot change. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/but-i-will-add-there-s-one-thing-i-will-not-do-ever-i-will-never-talk/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [Mood has a scuba section? Who knew?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/mood-has-a-scuba-section-who-knew/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [I would say this to my students all the time, it's about 30% you as the teacher and 70% about them. They tend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/i-would-say-this-to-my-students-all-the-time-it-s-about-30-you-as-the/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [I always say I have a Socratic approach to most things that I do. I pummel people with questions, because I need to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/i-always-say-i-have-a-socratic-approach-to-most-things-that-i-do-i/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [If I had to choose a single destination where I'd be held captive for the rest of my time in New York, I’d choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/if-i-had-to-choose-a-single-destination-where-i-d-be-held-captive-for/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [If I could predict the trends, they would already be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/if-i-could-predict-the-trends-they-would-already-be-there/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [In a manner of speaking. I certainly never want to lose my voice as an educator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/in-a-manner-of-speaking-i-certainly-never-want-to-lose-my-voice-as-an/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [Everyone has a best feature, so find clothes and accessories to accentuate those, whether it’s your shoulders or your long legs!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/everyone-has-a-best-feature-so-find-clothes-and-accessories-to/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [I have to have my coffee. I probably have three cups a day, but only before noon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/i-have-to-have-my-coffee-i-probably-have-three-cups-a-day-but-only/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [Most people wear clothing that is too big or too small for them. And "oversized" is the downfall for most of us. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/most-people-wear-clothing-that-is-too-big-or-too-small-for-them-and/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [We all had to search for more words to describe things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/we-all-had-to-search-for-more-words-to-describe-things/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) [Explore all 187 Tim Gunn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) ## More Easy quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [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/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [People think that the Club World Cup is an easy competition, but it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keylor-navas/people-think-that-the-club-world-cup-is-an-easy-competition-but-it-s/) [Keylor Navas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keylor-navas/) > [New York is large, glamorous, easy-going, kindly and incurious, but above all it is a crucible - because it is large enough to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/new-york-is-large-glamorous-easy-going-kindly-and-incurious-but-above/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [Sometimes life can suck and not be fair ,but we have to deal with it,because we feel we cant do anything but,we can.We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-life-can-suck-and-not-be-fair-but-we-have-to-deal-with-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Mortals are such fragile things. Just tender feelings walking around exposed in their delicate shells...Easy to crush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-marr/mortals-are-such-fragile-things-just-tender-feelings-walking-around/) [Melissa Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-marr/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [I don't know why, but I'm an easy target. And I don't do anything to dispel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-mcginley/i-don-t-know-why-but-i-m-an-easy-target-and-i-don-t-do-anything-to/) [Ted McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-mcginley/) > [I know that I'm going to have to work hard, keep working hard, and not because of this victory think, "I'm back." I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-clijsters/i-know-that-i-m-going-to-have-to-work-hard-keep-working-hard-and-not/) [Kim Clijsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-clijsters/) > [It's easy to make mistakes. It's living with the consequences of them that's the hardest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/it-s-easy-to-make-mistakes-it-s-living-with-the-consequences-of-them/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) [Browse all 14,306 Easy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I learned early on in teaching how easy it is to hurt a young person and that's never my intention.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tim Gunn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/i-learned-early-on-in-teaching-how-easy-it-is-to-hurt-a-young-person/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Easy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/i-learned-early-on-in-teaching-how-easy-it-is-to-hurt-a-young-person/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/tim-gunn-2085_easy_i-learned-early-on-in-teaching-how-easy_1644449.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/tim-gunn-2085_easy_i-learned-early-on-in-teaching-how-easy_1644449.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/tim-gunn-2085_easy_i-learned-early-on-in-teaching-how-easy_1644449.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I learned early on in teaching how easy it is to hurt a young person and that's never my intention.” — Tim Gunn", "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": "Tim Gunn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I learned early on in teaching...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/i-learned-early-on-in-teaching-how-easy-it-is-to-hurt-a-young-person/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/i-learned-early-on-in-teaching-how-easy-it-is-to-hurt-a-young-person/#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 } } ] } ```