The following are selected Dr. Maria Montessori quotes that shed additional light on her philosophy, her methods, and her powerful observations of the nature of children
"One test of the correctness of educational procedure is the happiness of the child."
"Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world."
"The education of even a small child, therefore, does not aim at preparing him for school, but for life."
“The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences.”
“The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences.”
“The things he sees are not just remembered; they form a part of his soul.”
“It is the child who makes the man, and no man exists who was not made by the child he once was.”
“When dealing with children there is greater need for observing than of probing”
“It is true that we cannot make a genius. We can only give to teach child the chance to fulfil his potential possibilities.”
“Little children, from the moment they are weaned, are making their way toward independence.”
“Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.”
“The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.”
“Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment.”
“The first essential for the child’s development is concentration. The child who concentrates is immensely happy.”
“Respect all the reasonable forms of activity in which the child engages and try to understand them.”
“To aid life, leaving it free, however, to unfold itself, that is the basic task of the educator.”
“The land is where our roots are. The children must be taught to feel and live in harmony with the Earth.”
“The child, in fact, once he feels sure of himself, will no longer seek the approval of authority after every step.”
The environment itself will teach the child, if every error he makes is manifest to him, without the intervention of a parent of teacher, who should remain a quiet observer of all that happens.”
“To let the child do as he likes when he has not yet developed any powers of control is to betray the idea of freedom.”
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