Mentoring has shaped my life – and the lives of so many others – in quiet but powerful ways.

Years ago, I was asked to mentor a bright young leader transitioning into a global role. She was smart, capable, and motivated but stuck. She didn’t need me to have all the answers. What she needed was a space to think, a sounding board, and someone who believed in her. That experience reminded me: mentoring isn’t about giving advice. It’s about building belief.

Today, as we navigate skills shortages, hybrid work, and a multi-generational workforce, mentoring has never been more important. It’s one of the most effective ways to support career development, foster inclusion, and build the leaders of tomorrow.

Below, I’ve curated a growing list of powerful quotes that capture the heart of mentoring i.e. its ability to connect, empower, and transform. Use them to inspire your team, kick off your mentoring programme, or reflect on your own mentoring journey.

Positive Mentoring | Putting a Spring in your Step with these Inspirational Quotes

Mentoring Quotes from Antoinette Oglethorpe

Positive Quotes about Mentoring

1) “Tell me and I forget.  Teach me and I may remember.  Involve me and I learn.” Benjamin Franklin

2) “The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” Plutarch

3) “In learning, you will teach, and in teaching, you will learn.” Phil Collins

4) “Spoon feeding, in the long run, teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon” E.M.Forster

5) “Leaders should influence others in such a way that it builds people up, encourages and edifies them so they can duplicate this attitude in others.” Bob Goshen

6) “The true tragedy in most peoples lives is that they are far better than they imagine themselves to be and, as a result, end up being much less than they might be.” Earl R. Smith II

7) “Your most important task as a leader is to teach people how to think and ask the right questions so that the world doesn’t go to hell if you take a day off” Jeffrey Pfeffer

8) “The mediocre leader tells.  The good leader explains.  The superior leader demonstrates.  The great leader inspires.” Gary Patton

9) “Today the lines between mentoring and networking are blurring.  Welcome to the world of mentworking” Julie Winkle Giulioni

10) “The barriers are not erected which can say to aspiring talents and industry “Thus far and no farther””  Ludwig van Beethoven

11) “The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” Steven Spielberg

12) “Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” John C. Crosby

13) “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

14) “A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” Oprah Winfrey

15) “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak.  Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Winston Churchill

16) “You cannot transit wisdom and insight to another person.  The seed is already there.  A good teacher touches the seed, allowing it to wake up, to sprout, and to grow.” Thich Nhat Hanh

17)  “You cannot teach a man anything.  You can only help him discover it within himself” Galileo Galilei

18)  “The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own” Benjamin Disraeli

19)  “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill 

20)  “Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can” Ralph Waldo Emerson

21)  “Advice is like snow; the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind.” Samuel Taylor Coleridge

22)  “The true secret of giving advice is, after you have honestly given it,  to be perfectly indifferent whether it is taken or not and never persist in trying to set people right.” Hannah Whitall Smith

23)  “You can’t push anyone up the ladder unless he is willing to climb himself” Andrew Carnegie

24)  “No man is capable of self-improvement if he sees no other model but himself.” Conrado I. Generoso 

25)  “A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.” Bob Proctor

26) “When we help ourselves we find moments of happiness. When we help others we find lasting fulfilment.” Simon Sinek

27) “Mentoring delivers you from mistakes and ignorance” Sam Adeyemi

28) “Every great achiever is inspired by a great mentor.” Lailah Gifty Akita

29) “Measure leadership success by the success of the successor.” Dr. Myles Munroe

30) “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” John R. Wooden

31) “Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement.” W. Clement Stone

32) “As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.” Bill Gates

33) “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” Mary Anne Radmach

34) “Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else” Les Brown

35) “All progress takes place outside the comfort zone.” Michael John Bobak

36) “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” Walt Disney

37) “Act as if you make a difference. It does.” William James

Want to Build a Mentoring Culture?

These quotes aren’t just words. They’re sparks.

If you’re a leader, HR professional, or talent development specialist, now’s the time to ignite your mentoring strategy whether through formal programmes, career conversations, or everyday coaching moments.

Here are a couple of ways I can help:

• Book my COMPASS keynote to inspire ownership and career growth across your organisation
• Download a free chapter of Confident Career Conversations

If this post resonated with you, please share it with a mentor, mentee, or colleague.