I think the teaching profession contributes more to the future of our society than any other single profession.

Wooden elevates teaching as the most consequential vocation because it shapes people at the formative level where values, habits, and aspirations are set. The claim reflects his lifelong emphasis on character education—success defined not merely by wins or status but by the quality of one’s preparation and conduct. By calling teaching uniquely influential, he implies a multiplier effect: teachers indirectly affect every other profession by educating future doctors, engineers, citizens, and leaders. The quote also functions as a moral argument for respecting and supporting educators, since the long-term health of a society depends on what and how the next generation learns.