Famous Mentor Quotes – GenTwenty

Do you have a mentor? If you don’t, it’s definitely something you want to look into.

Mentoring is so powerful and important when it comes to career growth and success. A mentor can be a great teacher and role model to help you head in the right direction for your future.

Even some now famous mentor-like figures wouldn’t be where they are today without having a mentor.

Did you know that Steve Jobs mentored Mark Zuckerberg? Or that Maya Angelou mentored Oprah Winfrey? Or that Christian Dior mentored Yves Saint-Laurent? Or that Steve Spielberg mentored J.J. Abrams?

We even see the importance of mentors in fiction such as Professor Dumbledore mentoring Harry Potter. All huge figures, and all ones that had the guidance of a mentor to help. The greatest mentors are the best teachers.

Even if you haven’t decided to choose your first mentor just yet, these famous mentor quotes will not only show you the power of mentorship, but are also some great pieces of “free” advice from famous mentors that can help guide you in the best way.

33 Famous Mentor Quotes

On Their Mentors

“She was there for me always, guiding me through some of the most important years of my life, Mentors are important, and I don’t think anybody makes it in the world without some form of mentorship.” – Oprah Winfrey on Maya Angelou

“Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you.” – Mark Zuckerberg on Steve Jobs

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

“Surround yourself only with people who are going to take you higher.” –Oprah Winfrey

“A mentor is someone who allows you to know that no matter how dark the night, in the morning, joy will come. A mentor is someone who allows you to see the higher part of yourself when sometimes it becomes hidden to your own view.” –Oprah Winfrey

” When I hear him sing and see what he can do, though, it’s always a reminder of why I look up to Usher as my mentor and why I will always be an Usher fan to my core. But I’m lucky to say that he’s an even better friend to me than he’s a mentor. He’s truly the real deal.” – Justin Bieber

“I always wish I’d had more mentors, better mentors, wiser mentors, people who were proper professional working musicians to guide me as I was coming up.” – Keith Urban

“I’m proud of my mentors. Ray Charles is the strongest influence on me as a singer.” – Michael Bolton

“I was lucky enough to have great mentors both in the culinary world and in the world of chefs who became celebrities. Bobby Flay is one of my dearest friends and a tremendous mentor for me. Mario Batali is the same way. They began doing TV a little before me and they showed me the way.” – Michael Symon

“Other than my parents, no one had a bigger influence on my life than Coach Smith. He was more than a coach – he was my mentor, my teacher, my second father. Coach was always there for me whenever I needed him and I loved him for it. In teaching me the game of basketball, he taught me about life.” – Michael Jordan

Quotes On Being A Mentor

“My job is not to be easy on people. My job is to take these great people we have and to push them and make them even better.” – Steve Jobs

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

“Being a mentor is something that’s new for me but a role that I take very seriously.” – Nicole Richie

“I love doing what I do. I’m a born mentor. I’ve launched so many people’s careers. I worked hard.” – Paula Abdul

“I am not a teacher, but an awakener.” – Robert Frost

Quotes On The Importance of Mentors

“Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you someone who had real positive influences in his or her life. I don’t care what you do for a living—if you do it well I’m sure there was someone cheering you on or showing the way. A mentor.” — Denzel Washington

“We must find time to stop and thank those the people who make a difference in our lives.” – John F Kennedy

“Mentorship is the key to unlocking each of our entrepreneurial spirits.” – Richard Branson

“If you ask any successful business person, they will always have had a great mentor at some point along the road.” –Richard Branson

“If you want someone to be your mentor, you better be ready to listen and be humbled.” – Magic Johnson

“Colleagues are a wonderful thing – but mentors, that’s where the real work gets done.” – Junot Diaz

“Mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults that we would like. It’s the only way we grow.” – George Lucas

Quotes To Motivate You

“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

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

“The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth.” – Dan Rather

“If today were the last day of your life, would you want to do what you are about to do today?” – Steve Jobs

“Champions keep playing until they get it right.” – Billie Jean King

“Big business starts small.” –Richard Branson

“We’re here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark.” – Whoopi Goldberg

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams

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

“All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and someone who believes in them.” – Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson

In Summary: Famous Mentor Quotes To Motivate You

A true mentor, a good mentor, will look out for you for the long run.

You’ll learn and grow together. Often when we think of famous quotes from famous people in history we think of Benjamin Franklin or Ralph Waldo Emerson but anyone can contribute as your mentor.

We hope these inspirational quotes from different mentors and mentees will help you with whatever next step you’re taking.

And remember, the right person to be your mentor is someone who will be a good teacher and support you in your personal and professional life.

About the Author

Michelle graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelors of Arts ’13 and a Master of Arts ’14. She’s currently working in corporate America with a side of freelance writing. She wants you to learn from her experiences and mistakes so your 20s can be your best decade. When she’s not working, she’s likely planning her escape to a tropical island.