“This too shall pass”. Wise words from a teacher, wasted on a class too young to appreciate anything outside of the present moment. I do hope he was aware of how important that phrase would become over time. 

There are teachers and there are Teachers, somewhere in the latter group are teachers who read. The ones who teach because it’s an opportunity to keep learning. They devour the world instead of devouring its young.

Attar records the fable of a powerful king who asks assembled wise men to create a ring that will make him happy when he is sad. After deliberation the sages hand him a simple ring with the Persian words “This too shall pass” etched on it, which has the desired effect.

Attar of Nishapur

Knowledge is knowing that something is going to hurt. Experience is understanding that it’s going to take time to heal. Our relationship to the scars is part of what defines who we are.