“A good teacher protects his pupils from his own influence.”

Simplified Meaning:

The main idea here is that a great teacher helps their students learn to think for themselves rather than just copying the teacher's ideas. Imagine you are learning to paint. If your art teacher insists you paint in exactly their style and insists their way is the only right way, you won't develop your own unique artistic voice. But if your teacher encourages you to explore different techniques, make mistakes, and create your own style, you will become a more confident and independent artist. In everyday life, this can be applied to any situation where someone is guiding another person, like a parent and child or a boss and employee. It’s important that the guide supports the learner to form their own opinions and solutions. This way, they grow to be independent thinkers who can handle challenges on their own. So, a good mentor knows when to step back and let the learner find their own path, making them stronger and more capable in the long run.