A biography for Maria Montessorihasn’t been written yet.
“To aid life, leaving it free, however, that is the basic task of the educator.”
“To stimulate life, leaving it free, however, to unfold itself--that is the first duty of the educator.”
“The child who concentrates is immensely happy.”
“The social relations which are the basis of the reproduction of the species are founded upon the continuous union of parents in marriage.”
“All work is noble; the only ignoble thing is to live without working. There is need to realize the value of work in all its forms whether manual or intellectual, to be called 'mate,' to have sympathetic understanding of all forms of activity.”
“The greatest sign of success for a teacher... is to be able to say, 'The children are now working as if I did not exist.'”
“The development of language is part of the development of the personality, for words are the natural means of expressing thoughts and establishing understanding between people.”
“Personal health is related to self-control and to the worship of life in all its natural beauty - self-control bringing with it happiness, renewed youth, and long life.”
“It is surprising to notice that even from the earliest age, man finds the greatest satisfaction in feeling independent. The exalting feeling of being sufficient to oneself comes as a revelation.”
“Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.”
“The environment acts more strongly upon the individual life the less fixed and strong this individual life may be.”
“Moral Education is the source of that spiritual equilibrium on which everything else depends and which may be compared to that physical equilibrium or sense of balance, without which it is impossible to stand upright or to move into any other position.”
“Joy, feeling one's own value, being appreciated and loved by others, feeling useful and capable of production are all factors of enormous value for the human soul.”
“Speech is one of the marvels that characterize man, and also one of the most difficult spontaneous creations that have been accomplished by nature.”
“The only language men ever speak perfectly is the one they learn in babyhood, when no one can teach them anything!”
“The greatest development is achieved during the first years of life, and therefore it is then that the greatest care should be taken. If this is done, then the child does not become a burden; he will reveal himself as the greatest marvel of nature.”
“In the first three years of life, the foundations of physical and also of psychic health are laid. In these years, the child not only increases in size but passes through great transformations. This is the age in which language and movement develop. The child must be safeguarded in order that these activities may develop freely.”
“We recommend for the training of teachers not only a considerable artistic education in general but special attention to the art of reading.”
“The task of the educator lies in seeing that the child does not confound good with immobility and evil with activity.”
“If education is always to be conceived along the same antiquated lines of a mere transmission of knowledge, there is little to be hoped from it in the bettering of man's future. For what is the use of transmitting knowledge if the individual's total development lags behind?”