If a student has been well educated in a wide variety of subjects, the teacher must be careful not to repeat what they have already learned, but to challenge the student with material they do not yet know thoroughly. With the student who has had no education, the teacher must be patient, willing to repeat things until the student understands, and sympathetic. Perhaps the most difficult student, however, is the one with an inferior education who believes he understands something when he does not. Augustine stressed the importance of showing this type of student the difference between "having words and having understanding" and of helping the student to remain humble with his acquisition of knowledge.
if a stuDeNT hAS bEen wEll EdUCAtEd in a wIDe VAriETY of SUbJEcts, ThE teAcheR MUst be caReful nOT to rePeat whAT They Have ALREAdy LeaRNED, bUT to chALlEnGE the STudenT witH mAterIal They do not Yet KNow thorOUghly. wiTh ThE studENt who hAs Had no edUCatiOn, thE TeAcheR must bE patIEnt, wilLInG to rEPeaT Things Until the StUdenT underSTANdS, and SymPaTheTiC. peRhaps thE most dIfFicult STudENt, hoWevER, Is The oNE WitH an infErior edUcatIoN Who beliEveS hE UnderstaNdS SoMEThIng when hE Does not. AugUstine stresseD The ImpoRtaNce OF SHowing tHIs typE oF student THE dIfFerenCe betWeeN "haViNg worDs And having UnderstaNdiNG" And OF Helping The StudeNt to RemaIn huMbLE WitH his acqUisition OF kNOwledge.