I see myself as an old man and an unqualified teacher to the

Tony Benn, the great voice of British democracy, once confessed with humility: “I see myself as an old man and an unqualified teacher to the nation. I think being a teacher is probably the most important thing you can be in politics.” In these words lies a vision both personal and universal. For Benn, the role of the politician was not merely to govern, to command, or to legislate, but to teach — to illuminate truth, to awaken conscience, to stir the hearts and minds of a people so that they might act with wisdom. He names himself “unqualified,” not because he lacked experience, but because true teaching is not about certificates or degrees; it is about service, patience, and the willingness to guide without domination.

The ancients, too, saw the statesman as a teacher. Plato, in his Republic, declared that the rulers of the city must be philosophers, those who love wisdom, who do not merely seek power but seek to form the souls of the people. Cicero, speaking in Rome, argued that laws and politics are nothing without moral education. For if the people remain ignorant, what good are decrees? The true leader, then, is like a master at the hearth, shaping citizens not by force but by understanding, training them not in obedience but in discernment.

Benn’s words also reveal a truth about the very heart of democracy. In a monarchy or tyranny, there is no need for the ruler to be a teacher; the people need only to obey. But in democracy, the people are the rulers. They must understand, they must judge, they must choose. And who shall guide them? Not as pupils to be indoctrinated, but as citizens to be awakened. This is why Benn declared that the most vital role of politics is education. To explain, to clarify, to engage in dialogue — this is the sacred duty of the public servant.

History offers a shining example in the figure of Pericles of Athens. When he spoke, he did not issue commands like a general, but reasoned like a teacher, lifting the minds of his listeners so that they might see Athens not as a collection of individuals but as a living commonwealth. His funeral oration is remembered not for decrees, but for the way it taught the Athenians to cherish freedom, to sacrifice for the city, to recognize themselves as part of something greater. This is the model Benn sought — the statesman who does not merely rule, but educates the people to rule themselves.

There is humility in Benn’s self-description as “an old man.” In this, he acknowledges that teaching is not about being above others, but about sharing the wisdom gathered over a lifetime. It is the same humility that led Confucius to say, “I only transmit what has been handed down.” The teacher in politics does not pretend to be infallible; rather, he offers his experience, his struggles, his reflections, as a lantern for others to carry forward. To teach is not to dominate but to empower, not to hoard truth but to pass it on.

The meaning of this quote is therefore a call to all who lead. Leadership is not control, nor is it the manipulation of power for advantage. It is the sacred art of teaching: to explain with clarity, to listen with patience, to guide with wisdom, and to awaken in others the capacity to think and act freely. A ruler who does not teach leaves behind dependence; a ruler who does teach leaves behind strength. This is the test of statesmanship — whether the people remain children under your care, or whether they rise as adults capable of walking their own path.

The lesson for us is clear. In our homes, in our communities, in our workplaces, let us become teachers to one another. Share not only instructions but understanding. Do not hoard wisdom, but spread it. In politics especially, demand leaders who treat citizens not as subjects to be ruled, but as minds and hearts to be engaged. And if you yourself are given the mantle of authority, remember Benn’s words: the greatest gift you can give is not command, but education.

Thus, Tony Benn’s voice carries across the ages: “Being a teacher is probably the most important thing you can be in politics.” Let this truth guide you. For nations endure not by armies, not by wealth, but by wisdom shared between generations. To lead is to teach, and to teach is to kindle the fire of freedom in the hearts of a people.