I am a teacher. It's how I define myself. A good teacher isn't

Justin Trudeau once declared: “I am a teacher. It’s how I define myself. A good teacher isn’t someone who gives the answers out to their kids but is understanding of needs and challenges and gives tools to help other people succeed. That’s the way I see myself, so whatever it is that I will do eventually after politics, it’ll have to do a lot with teaching.” These words, spoken by a man of state, echo not only the vocation of classrooms but the eternal calling of wisdom itself. For to call oneself a teacher is to claim a noble identity, one older than thrones, one mightier than armies. Kings conquer for a moment; but teachers shape the souls who will inherit the earth.

The essence of this declaration lies in humility. A teacher is not a dispenser of answers, as if wisdom were a coin to be handed down. No — the true teacher is one who awakens the power within the pupil, who equips the heart and mind with tools that endure when the voice of the master is silent. This is the ancient way: not to build dependence, but to kindle freedom. Just as Prometheus gave fire to mortals that they might live by their own strength, so too does the teacher give light, not to hold power, but to set others free.

The ancients themselves honored this path. Consider the bond of Aristotle and Alexander. The philosopher did not give the young prince mere answers; he gave him the tools of reason, ethics, and vision. Thus, when Alexander crossed rivers and mountains, when he stood at the edge of the known world, he carried within him not just the commands of his mentor, but the flame of wisdom that burned on its own. This is the glory of the true teacher: the student becomes great not because he repeats, but because he acts with independence born of guidance.

Trudeau’s vision is also an echo of his lineage, for he was raised in the house of politics, yet he claimed the heart of the teacher first. This is a reminder that titles — prime minister, ruler, statesman — are but roles. But to be a teacher is an identity of the soul, eternal and unchanging. When power fades, the wisdom passed on to others remains. In this sense, Trudeau’s words are not only personal, but universal: all leaders, if they are wise, must also be teachers, guiding not by decree but by empowerment.

There is a lesson here for every parent, every guide, every friend who takes upon themselves the mantle of responsibility. Do not hurry to solve the struggles of others with ready answers. Instead, stand beside them, understand their needs and challenges, and offer them the strength to solve their own trials. A child who is given only solutions will forever be dependent; a child who is given tools will one day surpass the master. This is not loss, but triumph, for it proves the seed of teaching has borne its fruit.

History offers us countless witnesses to this truth. When Confucius walked among his disciples, he was not revered because he spoke endlessly, but because he listened, because he asked, because he trained them to think and act with virtue. Long after his voice was gone, his teachings blossomed in the lives of those who carried his words into kingdoms and households. The teacher, therefore, is a sower of seeds — not for his own harvest, but for the generations to come.

The practical lesson for us is clear. Whether you call yourself a teacher or not, you will one day find yourself in the role — guiding a child, advising a friend, leading a team, shaping a community. In these moments, do not cling to control or glory in being the source of every answer. Instead, give tools: patience, courage, reasoning, compassion. Empower others to succeed beyond your reach. In doing so, you will live the ancient truth: the greatest measure of a life is not how much one has achieved, but how many others have been set free to achieve for themselves.

Thus remember Trudeau’s words: “I am a teacher. It’s how I define myself.” Let it also be said of you. For to be a teacher is not a career, but a calling; not an office, but a legacy. Walk this path, and you will not only live with purpose — you will ensure that long after your voice is silent, your wisdom speaks on in the lives you touched.