467 Quotes by Maria Montessori

A man is not what he is because of the teachers he has had, but because of what he has done.

No one who has ever done anything really great or successful has ever done it simply because he was attracted by what we call a ‘reward’ or by the fear of what we call a ‘punishment.’

When dealing with children there is greater need for observing than of probing.

While everyone was admiring the progress of my idiots, I was searching for the reasons which could keep the happy healthy children of the common schools on so low a plane that they could be equalled in tests of intelligence by my unfortunate pupils!

The role of education is to interest the child profoundly in an external activity to which he will give all his potential.

The task of the educator lies in seeing that the child does not confound good with immobility and evil with 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.

We cannot create observers by saying ‘observe,’ but by giving them the power and the means for this observation and these means are procured through education of the senses.

Our work is not to teach, but to help the absorbent mind in its work of development. How marvelous it would be if by our help, if by an intelligent treatment of the child, if by understanding the needs of his physical life and by feeding his intellect, we could prolong the period of functioning of the absorbent mind!