A student never forgets an encouraging private word, when it is given with sincere respect and admiration.

Phelps, a celebrated Yale teacher and popular essayist on reading and education, emphasizes the lasting power of personal encouragement in learning. The quote contrasts public praise with a “private word,” suggesting that discreet, individualized recognition can be more formative than general approval. Its force depends on the manner of delivery: encouragement “given with sincere respect and admiration” treats the student as a developing equal rather than a subordinate, reinforcing dignity and self-belief. The line also implies a teacher’s ethical responsibility: small acts of attentive kindness can shape a student’s memory and motivation long after formal instruction ends.