The world of knowledge takes a crazy turn when teachers

The words of Bertolt Brecht, dramatist and thinker of revolutionary fire, strike with paradoxical force: “The world of knowledge takes a crazy turn when teachers themselves are taught to learn.” In this statement, he reveals the hidden alchemy of education: that the process of teaching is not complete until the teacher themselves bows to humility, embraces curiosity, and becomes a student once again. For if teachers believe they are the final possessors of truth, then knowledge becomes stagnant; but if they remain learners, knowledge flows endlessly, reshaping both master and pupil alike.

The origin of this thought can be traced to Brecht’s fierce belief in transformation—political, social, and intellectual. Living through the upheavals of war and exile, he distrusted systems that claimed absolute authority, including educational systems where teachers sat as unquestioned masters. His vision of learning was dialectical: knowledge is not a treasure passed from hand to hand, but a flame lit in the encounter between minds. And when teachers learn, the balance shifts. The classroom ceases to be a place of hierarchy alone, and becomes instead a workshop of shared discovery, a realm where wisdom itself takes “a crazy turn” and blossoms into something unforeseen.

History offers vivid confirmation of Brecht’s insight. Consider the Renaissance, when ancient manuscripts, newly rediscovered, taught even the greatest scholars to question their assumptions. Copernicus, trained by the wisdom of his teachers, dared to return to the stars themselves for instruction. In so doing, he taught his teachers that even they must continue learning. Or think of Socrates, who in the marketplaces of Athens confessed that he himself knew nothing. By claiming ignorance, he made himself forever a student, and by this humility, became one of the greatest teachers of all time. His learning never ceased, and through it, the knowledge of the world was reshaped.

When teachers learn, students are emboldened. For they see that learning is not a task to be completed but a lifelong pilgrimage. They see that even the wise stumble upon new truths, and that there is no shame in ignorance—only in refusing to grow. This revelation turns the world upside down. The walls of the classroom dissolve, and the teacher is no longer a throne of authority, but a fellow traveler with more experience on the path. Such humility breeds respect, not domination; inspiration, not fear.

O seekers of truth, mark this well: arrogance kills knowledge, humility keeps it alive. A teacher who claims mastery will grow stale, repeating lessons until their voice turns hollow. But a teacher who hungers for more, who studies beside their students, who adapts and evolves, becomes a living wellspring. In this way, the world of knowledge is kept vibrant, always renewing itself, always surprising, always taking “crazy turns” into realms unknown.

The lesson for us is luminous: never cease to be a student, even when life places you in the role of teacher, mentor, or leader. Knowledge is not fixed but infinite, and those who stop learning soon lose the ability to guide others. To embrace learning as a teacher is to honor both yourself and your students, for you show them that the pursuit of wisdom is endless, like a river that flows without end.

Practical action lies before you: if you teach, commit yourself to study anew—read outside your field, ask questions, listen deeply. If you lead, be led also; learn from those you guide. If you are a student, remember that your teachers are human, capable of growth, error, and discovery. Encourage them by being curious yourself, by making the classroom a place of dialogue, not monologue. In this way, teacher and student alike grow stronger.

Thus let Brecht’s words echo across the generations: “The world of knowledge takes a crazy turn when teachers themselves are taught to learn.” Do not fear this “crazy turn.” It is the turn of progress, of humility, of wisdom unfolding. Embrace it, and you will discover that the greatest teacher is also the most faithful student, and that in such reciprocity, the world of knowledge becomes boundless and alive.