Maria Montessori Quotations

Children display a universal love of mathematics, which is par excellence the science of precision, order, and intelligence.

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

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.

One who has drunk at the fountain of spiritual happiness says good-by of his own accord to the satisfactions that come from a higher professional status ... What is the greatest sign of success for a teacher thus transformed? It is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist.

A humankind abandoned in its earlier formative stage becomes its own greatest threat to survival.

The work of education is divided between the teacher and the environment.

The first thing required of a teacher is that he be rightly disposed for his task.

No adult can bear a child’s burden or grow up in his stead.

When the children had completed an absorbing bit of work, they appeared rested and deeply pleased. It almost seemed as if a road had opened up within their souls that led to all their latent powers, revealing the better part of themselves. They exhibited a great affability to everyone, put themselves out to help others and seemed full of good will.

It is not the child as a physical but as a psychic being that can provide a strong impetus to the betterment of mankind. It is the spirit of the child that can determine the course of human progress and lead it perhaps even to a higher form of civilization.