A child starts from nothing and advances alone. It is the child's reason about which the sensitive periods revolve. The reason provides the initial force and energy, and a child absorbs his first images to assist the reason and act on it.

To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.

The child’s parents are not his makers but his guardians.

Character formation cannot be taught. It comes from experience and not from explanation.

The observation of the way in which the children pass from the first disordered movements to those which are spontaneous and ordered -- this is the book of the teacher; this is the book which must inspire her actions . . .

Watching a child makes it obvious that the development of his mind comes through his movements.

Under the urge of nature and according to the laws of development, though not understood by the adult, the child is obliged to be serious about two fundamental things ... the first is the love of activity... The second fundamental thing is independence.