It is easy to substitute our will for that of the child by means of suggestion or coercion; but when we have done this we have robbed him of his greatest right, the right to construct his own personality. Maria Montessori More Quotes by Maria Montessori More Quotes From Maria Montessori Concentration is the key that opens up to the child the latent treasures within him. Maria Montessori treasure keys children A new education from birth onwards must be built up. Education must be reconstructed and based on the law of nature and not on the preconceived notions and prejudices of adult society. Maria Montessori prejudice adults law We teachers can only help the work going on, as servants wait upon a master. Maria Montessori education teacher inspirational Within the child lies the fate of the future. Whoever wishes to confer some benefit on society must preserve him from deviations and observe his natural ways of acting. A child is mysterious and powerful and contains within himself the secret of human nature. Maria Montessori powerful lying children The child's conquests of independence are the basic steps in what is called his 'natural development'. Maria Montessori independence independent children The laws governing the universe can be made interesting and wonderful to the child, more interesting even that things in themselves, and he begins to ask: What am I? What is the task of man in this wonderful universe? Do we merely live here for ourselves, or is there something more for us to do? Why do we struggle and fight? What is good and evil? Where will it all end? Maria Montessori fighting struggle children Free choice is one of the highest of all the mental processes. Maria Montessori free-choice choices process Solicitous care for living things affords satisfaction to one of the most lively instincts of the child's mind. Nothing is better calculated than this to awaken an attitude of foresight. Maria Montessori mind attitude children A man is not what he is because of the teachers he has had, but because of what he has done Maria Montessori done teacher men Human dignity ... is derived from a sense of independence. Maria Montessori human-dignity independence dignity The child's conquest of independence begins with his first introduction to life. While he is developing, he perfects himself and overcomes every obstacle that he finds in his path. A vital force is active within him, and this guides his efforts towards their goal. It is a force called the 'horme', by Sir Percy Nunn. Maria Montessori independent goal children There should be music in the child's environment, just as there does exist in the child's environment spoken speech. In the social environment the child should be considered and music should be provided. Maria Montessori speech doe children The fundamental basis of education must always remain that one must act for oneself. That is clear. One must act for him or herself. Maria Montessori bases clear fundamentals The only language men ever speak perfectly is the one they learn in babyhood, when no one can teach them anything! Maria Montessori language teaching men Praise, help, or even a look, may be enough to interrupt him, or destroy the activity. It seems a strange thing to say, but this can happen even if the child merely becomes aware of being watched. After all, we too sometimes feel unable to go on working if someone comes to see what we are doing. The great principle which brings success to the teacher is this: as soon as concentration has begun, act as if the child does not exist. Naturally, one can see what he is doing with a quick glance, but without his being aware of it. Maria Montessori principles teacher children The child is essentially alien to this society of men and might express his position in the words of the Gospel: My kingdom is not of this world Maria Montessori men children world The word education must not be understood in the sense of teaching but of assisting the psychological development of the child. Maria Montessori development teaching children The development of the individual can be described as a succession of new births at consecutively higher levels. Maria Montessori levels growth development An educational method that shall have liberty as its basis must intervene to help the child to a conquest of liberty. That is to say, his training must be such as shall help him to diminish as much as possible the social bonds which limit his activity. Maria Montessori training educational children 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
