Top 10 Famous Quotes That Mentors Need to Hear

Why would a mentor need to hear a quote?

Quotes are inspirational. They have the ability to motivate us from our hearts, give us new perspectives that can aid us in our mentoring, and re-light the fires of passion when they start to dim. It doesn’t matter who said the quote, it is how they are said that touches us. 

These quotes have been taken from different people around the world. Some are straight up and honest, others come from movies or books, fictional characters that say things that stick with us. Every quote on this list can help a mentor grasp the importance of what they do. Every quote can help us to feel the depth our words can have on another. 

If you are reading this as a mentor, share your thoughts with your mentee. They may be here to re-ignite the flames of teaching greatness inside mentors, but the power that they hold can also help to build up, strengthen and encourage others.

The Power of Words

Words can cut, break down and destroy. But they can also be used to heal, build up and encourage. The power of the right words at the right time can save lives, start new relationships and turn a bad day into a great day. 

The following quotes come from people who understand how vital a good word can be to someone else. The first quote comes from one of the most influential wizards of today’s generation. Albus Dumbledore. Remember, while the character himself may not be real, his words (or the words of the author) ring true.

“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it.” –Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter Series.

To see words as magic is to see words as something beautiful, changeable, and powerful. Magic, when wielded in the wrong way, can produce devasting results. But good magic, beautiful magic, can heal and bring light to the darkness. Our words have that same power.

Our second quote comes from Robin Williams. This was a man who had struggled with depression throughout his life. This depression helped him to understand the true hurt and healing power of words. Despite everything, he liked to see the future as glorious and hopeful knowing that the right words can make the future as he dreamed it to be. 

“No matter what people tell you, WORDS and IDEAS can change the world.” – Robin Williams. 

It has often been claimed that people can change the world. It has been said that actions change the world. But both people and actions start with words and ideas. Without the power of words, the world could never change. 

The Power of Believing

We all desire for others to believe in us. If we swing that around, everyone needs us to believe in them. When someone believes in you it gives you the ability to take confident control of a situation. You start to believe in yourself, you get braver and more determined. The fear of failing decreases because how could you fail? With so many people believing in you it is hard to see the negative of a situation. 

Out third quote comes from a mentor, Ken Poirot. As a mentor, he well knows the power of believing in people. He documents the effect it can have in his book Mentor Me. 

“There is no greater power and support you can give someone than to look them in the eye, and with sincerity/conviction say, I believe in you.” – Ken Poirot

Note his choice of words here, no greater power. We have already spoken about how words can have a massive effect depending on how we use them, but these words must be accompanied by sincerity. If we do not truly believe in someone it will show in our actions even if we say something different. 

The Fourth quote in this installment comes from a collection of wise words found in Jason Verseys Book A walk with prudence. The book is designed to give encouraging thoughts that have the power to change one’s perspective of life. The power of believing in someone is certainly capable of this. 

“When you believe in someone you profoundly increase their ability to have faith in themselves and achieve. When you love someone, you imprint on their heart something so powerful it changes the trajectory of their life. When you do both you set into motion a gift to the world, because those who are believed in and loved understand the beauty of a legacy and the absolute duty of paying it forward.” – Jason Versey.

Pay attention to how he links love to believing in someone. The power of the two combined can really help someone to see themselves as you see them, and when they do their whole world can change for the better.

The Power of Encouragement

Encouragement can take many forms. It can be given through believing in someone, motivating someone, or shocking them into the right mindset. You can encourage them by reminding them about their goals and showing them how far they have come. Remember, the right words at the right time can be healing, words of encouragement are designed to heal.

Our Fifth and Sixth quotes are all about remembering why you started, it’s about fighting till the end of the road because of how far you have come. Both quotes come from the Fairy Tail series, a series that is well known for hitting home deep truths that we can all relate to.

“The minute you think of giving up, think of the reason why you held on so long.” – Natsu Dragneel

“You have three choices. You can give up, give in, or give it your all.” – Lucy Heartfillia

Both these quotes hold power. The first is because it will remind us why we are here doing what we do, this is a great way to encourage one to keep going. The second is because it lays the simplicity of what our choices really are. No one ever wants to give up, giving in sounds just as bad. Giving it your all gives the feeling that even if you do fail, you have done something. A failure is still an option here, but it takes the negativity out of the option. This harsh positivity is an encouragement in itself. 

Our Seventh quote comes from the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin D Roosevelt. AS a lawyer and politician Franklin must have had many successes and failures over his journey. The following quote shows how he really felt about that journey.

 “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” – Franklin D Roosevelt

 This is encouraging because it paints the problems as something that will help us to succeed. Sure, there may be a bump in the road, but it teaches us how to ride bumps, without that bump in the road we would never have learned that skill. What an encouraging way to view bad situations. 

The Power of Goals

Having and reaching goals can build us up. But also making goals can motivate us. Can you imagine your life without goals, without new years resolutions? What is your goal this week? Finish reading a book? Watch a TV series? Try a new food? It doesn’t have to be anything grand. A goal keeps us moving forward, trying new things. 

C.S. Lewis provides our Eighth quote. 

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis 

It doesn’t matter your age, or where you are in the stream of life. The moment you stop setting goals for yourself is the moment you begin to die. Keep making those goals, keep dreaming those dreams, experience all that life has to give. 

The Ninth quote comes from the actor Bruce Lee. This man was well known for his skills as a martial artist. He was strong and determined to be the fasted martial artist in cinema. He reached that goal to the point where the editors of his films had to slow down the frame rate so people could see what he was doing. But his words show that he never fully reached his goals, and that was okay with him. Here’s why:

“A goal is not always meant to be reached; it often serves simply as something to aim at.” – Bruce Lee. 

Bruce Lee saw a goal as a target. But he saw it in the way you would see a hole on a golf course with that first swing. You don’t aim to get a hole in one, you aim to get the ball as close to the hole as possible. It was a direction, a focus that motivated his actions. Missing the goal did not necessarily mean you failed. It simply meant you achieved something a little different from the first plan.

The Power of Teaching Relationships

The relationship between a mentor and a mentee is sacred. The relationship is the very foundation for communication, teaching, goal making, and eventual success. If the foundation is broken, the whole building will eventually come crashing down. 

Our final quote is on the strength of a good teaching relationship.

“Teaching is not about information. It’s about an honest intellectual relationship with your student.” – Paul Lockhart.

The relationship between a mentor and a mentee should be developed before the teaching even starts. It’s like an entertainer standing before his audience, a good one will first establish a relationship with that audience before he begins his program. Both he and the audience will benefit from the exchange. The audience will feel more included and more inclined to listen. The Entertainer will become more passionate and enjoy his topic more as he sees it is being received well.

The Power of Inspiration

Inspirational quotes have fuelled the work of many for years. This is why you see books of them on the shelves, walls plastered with thoughts of the day, apps that give you daily happy reminders. Every quote has affected someone, somewhere, somehow. Think of the quotes that have helped you over the years, share them with someone else. It may be just what they need to hear. 

Be inspirational.