The Absolute BEST Teacher Appreciation Quotes (2024)

Looking for some teacher appreciation quotes? We’ve got tons of great teacher quotes to motivate, uplift and inspire teachers and those who appreciate them.

Whether you need one to put in a thoughtful teacher appreciation letter or just looking for some inspiration in your personal teaching journey, these are just for you.

Teaching is a noble profession that demands dedication, patience, and hard work.

Each day, teachers strive to inspire and empower their students to achieve their full potential and become lifelong learners. However, every teacher knows that this journey is not without its challenges.

From dealing with difficult students to navigating complex curriculums, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and lose sight of the impact you’re making.

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of inspirational quotes that honor the hard work and dedication of teachers everywhere and show our deep appreciation for them.

From renowned educators to celebrities and motivational speakers, these quotes are sure to fuel your passion and remind you of the transformative power of teaching.

If you are looking for how to thank your teacher these are a great way to do just that.

If you’re looking for more ways to say thank you to your favorite teachers, make sure to check out our teacher thank you notes and our thank you messages to teachers from students.

And teacher appreciation poems to show your thanks with gorgeous words.

We’ve also got lots of great teacher appreciation printables like our teacher appreciation coloring pages.

Inspirational Teacher Appreciation Quotes

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” – Henry Adams

This quote speaks to the idea that teachers have a powerful impact on their students that extends far beyond the classroom. A great teacher has the ability to inspire, motivate and influence their students in ways that will shape their lives for years to come.

“What allgood teachershave in common, however, is that they set high standards for their students and do not settle for anything less.” – Marva Collins RD

This quote highlights the importance of having high expectations for students and the role that teachers play in guiding their students towards meeting those expectations.

Good teachers push their students to achieve their full potential, empower them with knowledge and skills, and encourage them to never settle for less than their best.

“If weteach today’s studentsas we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.” — John Dewey

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” – William A. Ward

This quote highlights the different levels of teaching and the qualities that set apart a good teacher from a great teacher.

While mediocrity simply tells, the superior teacher demonstrates and the great teacher inspires.

“What ateacher writeson the blackboard of life can never be erased.” – Unknown

“Teaching is a work of Heart” – Unknown

This quote recognizes that teaching is not simply a career, but a calling that requires passion, dedication, and love towards the profession.

“One looks back with appreciation to thebrilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings.” – Carl Jung

“Be awonderful role modelbecause you will be the window through which many children will see their future.” – Thomas Mckinnon

“Ahuman beingis not attaining his full heights until he is educated.” – Horace Mann

This quote highlights the transformative power of education. Horace Mann believed that education is a crucial element in attaining one’s full potential as a human being.

And the best teachers play a critical role in unlocking the full potential of their students.

“In acompletely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for less.” — Lee Iacocca

“Good teaching ismore a givingof right questions than a giving of right answers.” – Josef Albers

Your heart is slightly larger than theaverage human heart, but that’s because you’re a teacher.” – Aaron Bacall

This teacher appreciation quote speaks to the immense passion that teachers have for their profession and the deep love they have for their students.

Teaching is not just a job, but a calling that requires a big heart and endless dedication. The best teachers give their all to their students, nurturing them, inspiring them, and shaping their lives for the better.

“The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.” – Mark Van Doren

At its essence, teaching is all about helping students to discover new knowledge and insights. The best teachers know that it’s not about simply lecturing and imparting knowledge, but about assisting students in making their own discoveries.

The art of teaching involves guiding students towards asking the right questions, making connections and exploring the world around them.

“Teaching is avery noble professionthat shapes the character, caliber, and future of an individual.” – Abdul Kalan

“Nine tenths of educationis encouragement.” – Anatole France

“One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.” – Malala Yousafzai

“The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don’t tell you what to see.” – Alexandra K. Trenfor

This quote highlights the importance of empowering students to think for themselves. Special teachers are those who don’t simply hand out answers but guide their students towards finding the answers themselves.

They show their students where to look, but then allow them to interpret the information in their own way and draw their own conclusions.

This cultivates independent thinking, promotes creativity and inspires students to become lifelong learners.

“Great teachers empathizewith kids, respect them, and believe that each one has something special that can be built upon.” – Ann Lieberman

“Myteacher thoughtI was smarter than I was – so I was.” -Unknown

“He who opens aschool doorcloses a prison.” – Victor Hugo

“A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others.” – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

This quote emphasizes the selfless nature of a good teacher who dedicates themselves to guiding and enlightening their students.

“It takes a big heart to help shape little minds.” Unknown

“Not all superheroes have capes, some haveTeaching Degrees.” – Unknown

“The best teacher is the one who suggests rather than dogmatizes and inspires his listener with the wish to teach himself.” – Edward Bulwer-Lytton

“Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two loves together.” – Scott Hayden

This quote highlights the multifaceted role of a teacher, who not only imparts knowledge but also cultivates a passion for learning and fosters meaningful connections with their students.

“Teachers can change lives withjust the right mixof chalk and challenges.” – Joyce Meyer

“A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on a cold iron.” – Horace Mann

This quote emphasizes the importance of inspiring curiosity and passion for learning, as mere imparting of knowledge without motivation will not lead to true learning.

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” – John Dewey

This powerful quote suggests that education is a continuous and ongoing process that shapes our worldview and defines our existence, rather than simply a means to an end.

“Proper teachingis recognized with ease. You can know it without fail because it awakens within you that sensation which tells you this is something you have always known.” — Frank Herbert

This quote highlights the intuitive nature of effective teaching, which can make complex concepts easily understood and accessible to learners.

“Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is alost tradition.” –Jacques Barzun

“Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.” – Bob Talbert

This quote provides a clear message that the ultimate goal of teaching is not just the transmission of knowledge but also the cultivation of values like empathy, kindness, and integrity, which are essential for a well-rounded education.

“Teaching: theonly professionwhere you steal things from home and bring them to work.” –Unknown

This humorous quote highlights the unique and often challenging nature of the teaching profession, where creative problem solving and resourcefulness are essential.

“Teaching is not a profession; it’s a passion.” – Unknown

This touching quote emphasizes that teaching is not just a job but a calling, the true passion of those who dedicate themselves to nurturing young minds and future generations.

“A teacher’s job is to take a bunch of live wires and see that they are well-grounded.” – D. Martin

This quote implies that the role of a teacher is not just to impart knowledge, but to ensure that their students’ potential is properly harnessed and channeled in a positive direction.

“The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence.” – Amos Bronson Alcott

“In learning, you will teach, and in teaching, you will learn.” – Phil Collins

This quote suggests that the process of teaching and learning is cyclical and interconnected – as learners, we have the potential to become teachers, and as teachers, we continue to learn from our students.

“Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them.” – Lady Bird Johnson

This quote emphasizes the power of positive expectations, suggesting that children are more likely to succeed when their teachers believe in their potential and capabilities.

“Everyone who remembers his own education remembers teachers, not methods and techniques. The teacher is the heart of theeducational system.” –Sidney Hook

This quote underscores the importance of the teacher-student relationship in the learning process, implying that education is about more than just facts and figures – it is also about mentorship, guidance, and inspiration.

“A good teacher caninspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.” – Brad Henry

“Good teachingis 1/4 preparation and 3/4 theater.” – Gail Godwin

This quote suggests that effective teachers are not just knowledgeable, but also engaging and captivating presenters who can capture their students’ attention and imagination.

“I am not a teacher, but an awakener.” – Robert Frost

This quote reinforces the idea that teaching is not just about imparting knowledge but awakening curiosity and inspiration in our students, helping them to see the world in new and exciting ways.

“It isnot whatis poured into the student, but what is planted, that counts.” – E.P. Bertin

Focus on long-term growth and development over short-term acquisition of knowledge.

“Teaching is more thanimparting knowledge; it is inspiring change. Learning is more than absorbing facts; it is acquiring understanding.”—William Arthur Ward

Education is transformative, encouraging personal growth and development.

“Teaching is the profession that teachesall the other professions.” — Unknown

Teachers provides the essential skills and knowledge that form the foundation of all other professions.

“Teaching is thegreatest act of optimism.” – Colleen Wilcox

Teaching involves inspiring and empowering students to achieve their fullest potential.

“Thedream beginswith a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called ‘truth’.” –Dan Rather

A teacher is both mentor and motivator, guiding students towards achieving their dreams.

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” – Albert Einstein

Teaching inspires creativity and curiosity, encouraging students to engage with their passions and explore new ideas.

“Good teachers are the ones who canchallenge young mindswithout losing their own.” –Unknown

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy increative expressionand knowledge.” – Albert Einstein

“A teacher is a compass that activates the magnets of curiosity, knowledge, and wisdom in the pupils.” – Ever Garrison

“Education is not the filling of a pot but thelighting of a fire.”– William Butler Yeats

A great teacher is one that not only imparts knowledge but also ignites students’ passion for learning.

“Educators are the only people who lose sleep over otherpeople’s kids.” –Nicholas A. Ferroni

“If you have to put someone on a pedestal, put teachers. They are society’s heroes.” – Guy Kawasaki

This quote quote highlights the importance of teachers in our society and the impact they have on shaping the future.

“Teachers plant seeds of knowledge that grow forever.” – Anonymous

The anonymous quote emphasizes the lasting effects that teachers have on their students and the importance of nurturing knowledge that will continue to grow.

“Everychild deservesa champion—an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.” – Rita Pierson

“To me education is a leading out of what is already there in thepupil’s soul.” – Muriel Spark

Muriel Spark’s quote explains that education is not just about imparting knowledge but also drawing out the potential in every student.

“Better than a thousand days ofdiligent studyis one day with a great teacher.” – Japanese Proverb

The Japanese proverb signifies the immeasurable impact a great teacher can have on a student’s learning journey.

“Education is not toreform studentsor amuse them or to make them expert technicians. It is to unsettle their minds, widen their horizons, inflame their intellects, teach them to think straight, if possible.” — Robert M. Hutchins