You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself (Galileo Galilei)

Galileo Galilei 1640

This post could centre on the unfortunate way women were excluded from so much thinking by men back in the day (the 17th century for Galileo), but it doesn't.

Instead, let's change it to a gender neutral - you cannot teach anyone anything; you can only help someone find it within themselves.

Then again, he may have just been talking about males, right?

Anyway, a good debate topic.

As I teacher I'd like to think I can teach someone something (a new skill perhaps), but I suspect Galileo is correct - the impulse/receptiveness must come from within.