Maria Montessori

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled."

"There is no greater joy than that brought by the consciousness of development."

"The child's instinct to work should be respected and nourished as the soil is nourished in agriculture."

"The most important thing is that the children feel they are in an environment that belongs to them."

"The teacher walks in the shadows, effacing himself so that the sun of the child may shine."

"Love of work is the greatest preserver of health."

"The development of the moral sense is one of the most important aspects of human development."

"Movement is a primary need for all children; it is essential for the development of their mind."

"The child who has learned to do things for himself has acquired the power of concentration and perseverance."

"To teach is not to transfer knowledge, but to spark curiosity and wonder."

"The greatest gifts we can give our children are roots and wings."

"In every human being there lies a secret force which, by the help of another, can be liberated."

"The child is an observer by nature; we must give him the objects to observe."

"The man who has developed his powers of observation has access to knowledge no book can provide."

"If education is to be truly effective, it must begin in infancy and continue throughout life."

"The sense of touch is the primary means by which the child discovers the world around him."

"The future of civilization depends upon the way we educate our children today."

"To inspire your children, you must first inspire yourself."

"The child's sensitivity to order is one of the most mysterious phenomena of human development."

"We should speak to children not as to little dolls, but as to companions in human experience."

"The child who reads is the child who thinks."

"Imagination does not mean to invent something out of nothing; it means to construct from the experiences we have had."

"The work of education is not to change the child, but to help him express himself."

"Freedom and discipline are not opposites; discipline is the foundation of freedom."

"The child is an individual with his own unique way of learning and developing."

"The most wonderful discovery a child can make is that learning is joyful."

"Education should not be a preparation for life; it should be life itself."

"The aim of education is not to transfer knowledge, but to awaken joy in creative expression."

"The child who respects others learns to respect himself."

"To develop fully, the child must be free to choose his activities within a prepared environment."