--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the great problems facing men is…" description: "\"One of the great problems facing men is their failure to realize the fact that a child possesses an active psychic life even when he cannot manifest it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/maria-montessori-709_active_one-of-the-great-problems-facing-men-is_1726161.png" --- # One of the great problems facing men is their failure to… ![“One of the great problems facing men is their failure to realize the fact that a child possesses an active psychic life even when he cannot manifest it, and that the child must secretly perfect this inner life over a long period of time.” quote by Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/maria-montessori-709_active_one-of-the-great-problems-facing-men-is_1726161.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/maria-montessori-709_active_one-of-the-great-problems-facing-men-is_1726161.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/maria-montessori-709_active_one-of-the-great-problems-facing-men-is_1726161.png) > “One of the great problems facing men is their failure to realize the fact that a child possesses an active psychic life even when he cannot manifest it, and that the child must secretly perfect this inner life over a long period of time.” [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children have inner mental activity that is not always visible, and they develop it quietly over many years. **In simple terms:** Kids think inside even when we can’t see it. Key Takeaway Recognize and nurture hidden mental growth. Themes child development psychology education inner life Mood reflective thoughtful Type educational psychological When to use this quote - parenting - classroom teaching - early childhood programs - family support Key Concepts psychic activity latent potential developmental stages Questions to Reflect On - How can adults support unseen mental growth? - What signs reveal a child's inner development? A Different Perspective Children may not express their inner thoughts, making assessment difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Active](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active/) [Child Possesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-possesses-1384998/) [Child Secretly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-secretly-1384996/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Inner life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long periods of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-periods-of-time/) [Manifest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manifest/) [Manifest Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manifest-child-1384997/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-failure-1384999/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Periods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/periods/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problems Facing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems-facing-1083434/) [Psychics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychics/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“There is no greater evil than men's failure to consult and to consider.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/there-is-no-greater-evil-than-men-s-failure-to-consult-and-to-consider/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“5. 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It might lead to actual solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/the-liberal-run-institution-of-journalism-does-not-allow-probing-of/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Along with selfishness, anger is one of the most serious problems facing the world today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/along-with-selfishness-anger-is-one-of-the-most-serious-problems/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## More by Maria Montessori > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/to-assist-a-child-we-must-provide-him-with-an-environment-which-will/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Imitation is the first instinct of the awakening mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/imitation-is-the-first-instinct-of-the-awakening-mind/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [The undisciplined child enters into discipline by working in the company of others; not being told he is naughty.” “Discipline is, therefore, primarily a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-undisciplined-child-enters-into-discipline-by-working-in-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [When you have solved the problem of controlling the attention of the child, you have solved the entire problem of its education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/when-you-have-solved-the-problem-of-controlling-the-attention-of-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [It is exactly in the repetition of the exercises that the education of the senses exists; not that the child shall know colors, forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/it-is-exactly-in-the-repetition-of-the-exercises-that-the-education/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Adults look upon a child as something empty that is to be filled through their own efforts, as something inert and helpless for which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/adults-look-upon-a-child-as-something-empty-that-is-to-be-filled/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [The observation of the way in which the children pass from the first disordered movements to those which are spontaneous and ordered -- this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-observation-of-the-way-in-which-the-children-pass-from-the-first/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [The teacher's task is not a small easy one! She has to prepare a huge amount of knowledge to satisfy the child's mental hunger.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-teacher-s-task-is-not-a-small-easy-one-she-has-to-prepare-a-huge/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Education is a work of self-organization by which man adapts himself to the conditions of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/education-is-a-work-of-self-organization-by-which-man-adapts-himself/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [The possibility of observing the developments of the psychical life of the child as natural phenomena and experimental reactions transforms the school itself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-possibility-of-observing-the-developments-of-the-psychical-life/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Never help a child with a task that they feel they can complete themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/never-help-a-child-with-a-task-that-they-feel-they-can-complete/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [It is not the child as a physical but as a psychic being that can provide a strong impetus to the betterment of mankind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/it-is-not-the-child-as-a-physical-but-as-a-psychic-being-that-can/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [By the age of three, the child has already laid down the foundations of his personality as a human being, and only then does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/by-the-age-of-three-the-child-has-already-laid-down-the-foundations/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Rewards and punishments, to speak frankly, are the desk of the soul, that is, a means of enslaving a child's spirit, and better suited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/rewards-and-punishments-to-speak-frankly-are-the-desk-of-the-soul/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) [Explore all 397 Maria Montessori quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) ## More Active quotes > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. 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