I am bourgeois to the core and parochial beyond belief, and yet I am drawn to art and scholarship as read more

I am bourgeois to the core and parochial beyond belief, and yet I am drawn to art and scholarship as my anti-type, my shadow, the voice of distinction I never possessed. I don't think of myself as a teacher so much as an impersonator of profundities, inhabiting the wisdom of texts with the naked confidence that the value of the genius I espouse transcends the particular fraud that I am the one espousing it. And it doesn't even matter to me that no one seems to be listening; those who listen that I don't know about are enough to keep me going--soaring on the wings of borrowed metaphors.

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.

Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

Teaching is the greatest act of optimism.

Teaching is the greatest act of optimism.

I had a terrible education. I attended a school for emotionally disturbed teachers.

I had a terrible education. I attended a school for emotionally disturbed teachers.

Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee.

Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee.

To learn and never be filled, is wisdom; to teach and never be weary, is love.

To learn and never be filled, is wisdom; to teach and never be weary, is love.

A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.

A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.

Your best teacher is your last mistake.

Your best teacher is your last mistake.