Concentration is a part of life. It is not the consequence of a method of education.
Interpretation
Concentration is an essential element of life that goes beyond formal education methods.
Maria Montessori emphasizes that concentration is a fundamental aspect of living, suggesting that it should be cultivated naturally rather than solely through educational techniques. Her perspective encourages individuals to recognize the importance of focus and attentiveness in all areas of life, highlighting that these qualities contribute significantly to personal growth and learning.
In practice
During a workshop on personal development, this quote can inspire participants to prioritize their focus.
... the first thing his education demands is the provision of an environment in which he can develop the powers given him by nature. This does not mean just to amuse him and let him do what he likes. But it does mean that we have to adjust our minds to doing a work of collaboration with nature, to being obedient to one of her laws, the law which decrees that development comes from environmental experience.
When we want to infuse new ideas, _x000D_ to modify or better the habits and customs of a people, _x000D_ to breathe new vigor into its national traits, _x000D_ we must use the children as our vehicle; for little can be accomplished with adults.
Noble ideas, great sentiments have always existed and have always been transmitted, but wars have never ceased.
What we need is a world full of miracles, like the miracle of seeing the young child seeking work and independence, and manifesting a wealth of enthusiasm and love.
To aid life, leaving it free, however, that is the basic task of the educator.
It is fortunate, I think, that nature is not bounded by human reason and by laboratory work and experimentation, for by the laws of pure reason and by microscopic investigation, it might easily have been proved, long before this, that children could not be born.
There is no way, absolutely no way, that I would want people to stop reading the 'Odyssey.' But I want them to read it with their eyes open. To notice it and then to think what it says about us.
Human intelligence is richer and more dynamic than we have been led to believe by formal academic education.
Universities are the cathedrals of the modern age. They shouldn't have to justify their existence by utilitarian criteria.
We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate.
I tell you, in this country, you don't get much of an education. Throughout high school, through junior college, which is all I went, I didn't know anything about the annihilation of all the Indian nations that were here.
I spent much of my childhood in northern Quebec, and often there was no radio, no television - there wasn't a lot to entertain us. When it rained, I stayed inside reading, writing, drawing.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.