In my teens, I developed a passionate idolatry for a teacher of

Trevor Nunn once recalled: “In my teens, I developed a passionate idolatry for a teacher of English literature. I wanted to do something that he would approve of more, so I thought I should be some sort of a scholar.” At first, this may sound like a simple memory of youth, but within it lies a timeless truth: that the influence of a great teacher can awaken hidden fire in the soul, shaping the direction of a life. For the student, in the presence of one admired, longs not merely to learn but to rise—to become worthy of that gaze of approval.

The origin of these words lies in Nunn’s own early life, before he became a world-renowned director of Shakespearean drama and musical theater. As a boy, he encountered a teacher whose passion for words and stories lit within him a fierce devotion. That devotion was not only intellectual, but deeply emotional—a desire to live up to the vision of greatness that the teacher embodied. Thus, he sought at first to be a scholar, for scholarship seemed the way to win the approval of the one he revered. Here we see how admiration can become a compass, guiding the young toward discovery.

The ancients knew the power of this dynamic well. Plato himself was shaped by his love for Socrates, whose questions and example stirred him to seek truth with tireless energy. The young Alexander, taught by Aristotle, grew to believe himself destined for greatness, not only by blood but by the wisdom his teacher imparted. In both cases, as with Nunn, it was not cold duty but passionate idolatry—a reverence for the teacher—that transformed curiosity into vocation.

History offers us countless such examples. Consider Helen Keller, blind and deaf from infancy. It was the patient guidance of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, that unlocked her world. Helen strove with all her strength to make her teacher proud, and in doing so, achieved more than anyone thought possible. Without Sullivan, Keller’s genius might have remained silent. Without his English teacher, Nunn might never have pursued the stage. The spark of approval can ignite a fire that burns for a lifetime.

The meaning of Nunn’s reflection is this: admiration, especially in youth, can be the seed of greatness. When the young soul finds a figure worthy of reverence, it begins to measure itself against higher standards. Even if the first impulse is simply, “I want him to be proud of me,” the deeper result is a striving that shapes character, talent, and destiny. Thus, we see that teachers are not only givers of information, but awakeners of longing.

The lesson for us is clear: seek out those whose greatness inspires you, and allow their vision to lift your own. Do not fear to admire, for true admiration is not weakness, but the soil in which ambition grows. At the same time, if you are placed in the role of teacher, know the weight of your influence. A single word of encouragement can become a guiding star for decades. A single glance of approval can redirect a life.

In your own practice, strive to both learn and inspire. As a student, honor the mentors who awaken your soul, and let their example drive you to greater heights. As a teacher, remember that your role is not only to impart facts but to embody something worthy of reverence, something that calls forth the best from those who watch you. This is how knowledge becomes wisdom, and how admiration becomes transformation.

Therefore, remember Trevor Nunn’s words: “I developed a passionate idolatry for a teacher of English literature.” In them is contained the eternal truth that greatness is not born in isolation, but in the meeting of souls—one who teaches and one who longs to learn. Treasure those meetings, for in them lie the seeds of destiny, the beginnings of art, and the shaping of lives that will echo through generations.