The philosopher Emmanuel Levinas suggested that the most ethical act possible is the discovery that one has assumed responsibility for the other. In fact it is the other that makes possible the genuine exploration of the self, an act dominating the adolescent era of development. Although rarely appearing in educational literature, Levinas has created an intriguing foundation for examining the role of the great teacher in terms of the life-long influence he or she may have on a student. In this essay, the author explores the work of Levinas and in the process recalls the powerful effect that great teacher has had on him. In retrospect, it is evident that the manner in which this teacher assumed responsibility for his young student reveals the Levinas theory to hold powerful and enduring intellectual as well emotional weight.