It’s remarkable how little we learn in school is actually useful in real life. I’m not just referring to being prepared for actual jobs, but maybe more importantly, how we think about the world, and ourselves. In school, there’s greater emphasis on the what and when than the how and the why. The how and the why are actually what make the world go around. If we don’t understand how human beings are motivated to behave in the way we do, we can never “change the world.”

Here, I find philosophy immensely helpful. This may sound crazy—going to college almost made me hate philosophy. It felt as if everything had to move through a particular “school of thought,” a particular worldview or ideology by which things must be understood—when in fact, philosophy is inherently about gaining a wider perspective on life. It was only after college, after I experienced life in various capacities, as a teacher and as a leader, that I rediscovered the value of philosophy. Wise leadership requires the capacity to understand the many contradictions that motivate people to act. And since the world is always changing, we must always be prepared to learn.

In choosing the three quotes below, I wanted to capture ideas that not only influenced me on an intellectual level, but also ideas that helped me on a practical level. I believe philosophy is deeply practical. Morality, fairness and language—these are not just abstract concepts; they influence how we see the world, and how life is lived.