A child starts from nothing and advances alone. It is the child's reason about which the sensitive periods revolve. The reason provides the initial force and energy, and a child absorbs his first images to assist the reason and act on it. Maria Montessori More Quotes by Maria Montessori More Quotes From Maria Montessori Watch the unending activity of the flowing stream or the growing tree. See the breakers of the ocean, the unceasing movements of the earth, the planets, the sun and the stars. All creation is life, movement, work. Maria Montessori ocean stars tree Freedom without organization of work would be useless. The child left free without means of work would go to waste, just as a new-born baby, if left free without nourishment, would die of starvation.The organization of the work, therefore, is the cornerstone of this new structure of goodness [in education], but even that organization would be in vain without the liberty to make use of it. Maria Montessori baby mean children Beauty lies in harmony, not in contrast; and harmony is refinement; therefore, there must be a fineness of the senses if we are to appreciate harmony. Maria Montessori harmony appreciate lying It is necessary, then, to give the child the possibility of developing according to the laws of his nature, so that he can become strong, and, having become strong, can do even more than we dared hope for him. Maria Montessori strong law children How can we speak of Democracy or Freedom when from the very beginning of life we mould the child to undergo tyranny, to obey a dictator? How can we expect democracy when we have reared slaves? Real freedom begins at the beginning of life, not at the adult stage. These people who have been diminished in their powers, made short-sighted, devitalized by mental fatigue, whose bodies have become distorted, whose wills have been broken by elders who say: "your will must disappear and mine prevail!"-how can we expect them, when school-life is finished, to accept and use the rights of freedom? Maria Montessori real children school The more the capacity to concentrate is developed, the more often the profound tranquility in work is achieved, then the clearer will be the manifestation of discipline within the child. Maria Montessori discipline profound children Knowing what we must do is neither fundamental nor difficult, but to comprehend which presumptions and vain prejudices we must rid ourselves of in order to be able to educate our children is most difficult. Maria Montessori knowing order children The development of the mind comes through movement Maria Montessori movement development mind Work is necessary; it can be nothing less than a passion; a person is happy in accomplishment. Maria Montessori passion accomplishment persons The child is much more spiritually elevated than is usually supposed. He often suffers, not from too much work, but from work that is unworthy of him. Maria Montessori teaching suffering children Concentration is a part of life. It is not the consequence of a method of education. Maria Montessori parts-of-life method concentration We must clearly understand that when we give the child freedom and independence, we are giving freedom to a worker already braced for action, who cannot live without working and being active. Maria Montessori independent giving children The real preparation for education is the study of one's self. Maria Montessori preparation real self If children are allowed free development and given occupation to correspond with their unfolding minds their natural goodness will shine forth. Maria Montessori shining mind children Preventing war is the work of politicians, establishing peace is the work of educationists. Maria Montessori preventing politician war The ancient saying, "There is nothing in the intellect which was not first in some way in the senses," and senses being explorers of the world, opens the way to knowledge. Maria Montessori way world firsts Our goal is not so much the imparting of knowledge as the unveiling and developing of spiritual energy. Maria Montessori goal teaching spiritual Freedom in intellectual work is found to be the basis of internal discipline. Maria Montessori discipline intellectual found Adults have not understood children or adolescents and they are, as a consequence, in continual conflict with them. Maria Montessori conflict adults children If we try to think back to the dim and distant past... what is it that helps us reconstruct those times, and to picture the lives of those who lived in them? It is their art... It is thanks to the hand, the companion of the mind, that civilization has arisen. Maria Montessori past art thinking
