“The educator must believe in the potential power of his pupil, and he must employ all his art in seeking to bring his pupil to experience this power.”
- February 7, 1870 – May 28, 1937
- Austrian
- Psychotherapist, Medical Doctor, Founder of Individual Psychology
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Quote
“The educator must believe in the potential power of his pupil, and he must employ all his art in seeking to bring his pupil to experience this power.”
Explanation
This quote reflects Alfred Adler’s deep conviction that education is a relationship built on belief in the student’s inherent potential. The educator’s role is not simply to transmit knowledge, but to awaken the student’s sense of capability and worth. By believing in the pupil’s strength—even before the pupil believes in it themselves—the educator becomes a guide toward self-realization, using every method and tool to help the student recognize and activate their own power.
Adler developed this idea in harmony with his psychological theory of encouragement, which he saw as more vital than praise or punishment. In early 20th-century Vienna, where rigid, authoritarian education systems prevailed, Adler’s view was revolutionary. He argued that many failures in learning or behavior were not due to lack of intelligence, but to feelings of inferiority. The task of the teacher, therefore, was to nurture courage and confidence, making students feel capable of contributing to their world.
Today, this approach underpins student-centered learning, growth mindset education, and trauma-informed teaching. An educator who sees potential in every child—especially those struggling—can be the decisive force in transforming a student’s life. This quote reminds us that the core of effective teaching is not control, but belief, and that the highest goal of education is to help each individual experience their own strength and rise to meet their life tasks with confidence.
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