I thought, well of course, Kinsey absolutely adored teaching. He

Hear the words of Liam Neeson, spoken as he reflected upon Alfred Kinsey, the man he once portrayed: “I thought, well of course, Kinsey absolutely adored teaching. He was a wonderful teacher. So these kids really inspired me. So that was a clue I hung onto. He loved young people, he absolutely loved them. And he loved teaching them and trying to help them.” At first, these words may appear to be an actor’s study of character, but they carry within them a timeless truth: that the noblest calling of man is to teach, to kindle the spark of knowledge in others, and to love those who seek to learn.

For Neeson, in seeking to understand Kinsey, found not only a detail of profession but a revelation of the man’s soul. Kinsey was not merely a scientist or researcher—his true fire lay in teaching, in the shaping of minds, in the joy of watching young people grow and question. To love knowledge is one thing; to love sharing it, to give it freely and passionately, is another and greater thing. For it is in this that one moves beyond the self, beyond ambition, and becomes a guide for others on their journey.

History is filled with such figures who loved teaching more than fame or fortune. Socrates walked the streets of Athens, drawing forth truth by questioning, igniting in his students a lifelong pursuit of wisdom. Confucius wandered from state to state, teaching disciples the harmony of virtue, family, and order. These men, like Kinsey, found joy not merely in knowing, but in passing on knowledge—in watching the youth of their time take up the torch. Neeson, in recognizing this, reveals the eternal mark of a true teacher: delight in the student’s growth.

And how profound is the bond between the teacher and the student! The student brings eagerness, the thirst to know, the questions that challenge and refresh the mind of the master. The teacher, in turn, offers patience, guidance, and the wisdom of years. This relationship, founded on love and respect, is one of the oldest and most sacred bonds in the human story. It is not merely an exchange of facts, but a communion of spirits—an act of creation, where one soul helps awaken another.

Yet Neeson’s reflection carries also a reminder for all of us: to be truly great in any field, one must not only do, but also teach. For when we give knowledge away, we multiply it; when we pass it on, we plant seeds that may bear fruit long after we are gone. Kinsey’s legacy was not only in his research, but in the generations of students he inspired. His greatness, as Neeson saw, was inseparable from his devotion to those young minds who stirred his passion and kept his love of discovery alive.

What then is the lesson for us, O seekers of wisdom? It is this: do not hoard what you know, but share it. Whatever your craft, your art, your understanding, pass it on to those who come after you. Love them not as empty vessels to be filled, but as flames waiting to be lit. Approach teaching not as duty but as joy, not as burden but as honor. For in guiding others, you deepen your own wisdom, and in loving those who learn, you take part in the eternal chain that binds the generations.

Therefore, remember Neeson’s insight into Kinsey: that the heart of a man is often revealed by what and whom he loves. Kinsey loved his students, he loved his subject, and he loved the act of teaching. Let us follow this example. Let us find joy in helping, strength in guiding, and fulfillment in seeing others rise. For in truth, the greatest legacy of any life is not what we achieve alone, but what we inspire in others. To teach is to live beyond oneself, and to love those who learn is to walk in the footsteps of the eternal.