There is no real teacher who in practice does not believe in the

Allan Bloom, the philosopher who warned against the closing of the mind, once declared with solemn certainty: “There is no real teacher who in practice does not believe in the existence of the soul, or in a magic that acts on it through speech.” These words, heavy with meaning, remind us that true teaching is not the transfer of facts from one mind to another, but the awakening of the soul through words that carry power beyond reason. Teaching, Bloom tells us, is not merely science — it is enchantment, it is fire, it is the mysterious act of one heart touching another across the space of silence.

The origin of this thought lies in the ancient understanding of education as the shaping of the inner life. For the Greeks, to teach was to tend the soul — to lead it from darkness into light. Socrates himself spoke of being a “midwife of souls,” drawing truth out of his students not by force, but by dialogue. To him, words were not mere sounds; they were living instruments of transformation. Bloom, echoing this ancient tradition, declares that every true teacher must believe — whether openly or secretly — in this magic of speech, this sacred power that stirs the hidden depths of the human spirit.

History offers us radiant proof. Consider Martin Luther King Jr., who stood not as a classroom teacher, but as a teacher of nations. His speeches did not merely convey arguments; they set souls ablaze. “I have a dream,” he proclaimed, and in those words entire generations felt their hearts lifted into hope. That is the very magic Bloom describes: speech that penetrates beyond intellect, reaching the essence of the listener, awakening dignity, courage, and love. Without belief in such a force, no man could have spoken as King spoke, nor moved the world as he moved it.

Even in quieter classrooms this truth resounds. A child discouraged, broken by failure, may hear a single word from a teacher — “I believe in you” — and rise with new strength. That moment cannot be measured on tests or explained by logic, yet it changes the course of a life. Is this not magic? Is this not proof that teaching touches not just the mind, but the soul? Bloom’s words remind us that every teacher who truly teaches carries within them this faith, even if unspoken: that their words may kindle light in places unseen.

But Bloom also speaks against false teaching. The one who denies the soul, who believes only in mechanics and rote, may instruct in procedures but cannot truly teach. For to reach only the surface is to leave the essence untouched. The real teacher is one who, knowingly or not, whispers to eternity through every lesson, who dares to believe that words have power beyond sound, that truth spoken with conviction can transform the very being of the listener.

The lesson for us is clear: guard your speech, for it is never empty. Whether you are a teacher, a parent, a leader, or a friend, your words have the power to wound or to heal, to darken or to awaken. Believe, as Bloom commands us, in the magic of language, in its power to shape souls. For if you speak carelessly, you may wound deeply; but if you speak with love, courage, and wisdom, you may alter the course of another’s life forever.

What must you do? First, recognize the weight of your words. Do not let them fall idle, but use them with reverence. Second, cultivate sincerity: let your speech spring from truth, for falsehood cannot awaken the soul. Third, dare to inspire. Whether teaching a child or consoling a friend, do not be ashamed to believe that your words carry power. Speak as if you are shaping eternity — because you are.

Thus, let Allan Bloom’s wisdom resound across time: “There is no real teacher who does not believe in the soul, or in the magic that acts upon it through speech.” To believe this is to live with reverence, to speak with care, and to teach with courage. For in the end, it is not facts alone that endure, but the words that reached the soul, the words that awakened life, the words that carried the eternal fire of one spirit into another.