It was a matter of inexpressible joy to me that from their childhood the children [in Montessori schools] were brought to understand the virtue of silence… It gave great joy to see those beautiful rhythmic movements and, as I was watching those movements of the children, my whole heart went out to the millions of the children of the semi-starved villages of India, and I asked myself…is it possible for me to give them those lessons and the training that are being given under your system, those children?
..Therefore, I repeat that even as you, out of your love for children, are endeavouring to teach those children, through your numerous institutions, the best that can be brought out of them, even so I hope that it will be possible not only for the children of the wealthy and the well-to-do but for the children of paupers to receive training of this kind. You have very truly remarked that if we are to reach real peace in the world, and if they will grow up in their natural innocence, we won’t have the struggle, we won’t have to pass fruitless idle resolutions, but we shall go from love to love and peace to peace, until at last all the corners of the world are covered with that peace and love for which, consciously or unconsciously, the whole world is hungering.
Mahatma Gandhi, November 19, 1931
