Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers. (Voltaire, 18th century French Enlightenment writer)

Good teachers know how to frame good questions—questions that make the student think and not simply give rote responses. So, Voltaire’s instruction is helpful. The questions a person asks shows a lot about how he or she is thinking. Before we voice an inquiry, it would be good for us to prepare it carefully to elicit a really helpful answer.

After three days they found [Jesus] in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions (Luke 2:46).