This quote emphasizes the difference between teaching and learning, two elements that are often conflated. It suggests that teaching is about showing the way, illustrating that a certain task, skill, or piece of knowledge can be grasped or accomplished. It’s about the transfer of knowledge or skills from one person to another. The teacher’s role, according to this perspective, is to demonstrate the realm of the possible, to show what can be achieved.

On the other hand, learning is a personal journey. It is about internalizing the knowledge or skill that has been demonstrated and making it your own. It’s about taking the possibilities shown by the teacher and turning them into personal capabilities. Learning is not a passive absorption of information but an active process of transformation.

In today’s world, this idea could be applied in various contexts. In education, it might suggest a shift from traditional, teacher-centered methods towards more student-centered, active learning approaches. Teachers would focus less on transmitting information and more on demonstrating skills and concepts, while students would be encouraged to take more responsibility for their own learning.

In the workplace, it could imply a greater emphasis on learning and development, with employees being given opportunities to learn new skills and expand their knowledge base. Managers would act as facilitators, demonstrating what is possible and supporting employees in their learning journeys.

In terms of personal development, this quote underscores the importance of experiential learning and self-directed growth. It suggests that we learn best not by passively receiving information, but by actively engaging with it, experimenting with it, and making it our own. It encourages us to see every experience as a learning opportunity and to take ownership of our own development.