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A child, not knowing what is extraordinary and what is commonplace, usually lights midway between the two, finds interest in incidents adults consider beneath notice, and calmly accepts the most improbable occurrences.

— Gene Wolfe The Fifth Head of Cerberus", Orbit 10 (1972)

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Children

More quotes by Gene Wolfe

Experience is a wonderful teacher, but one whose lessons come too late.

The Book of the Short Sun (1999)

Paradoxes explain everything. Since they do, they cannot be explained.

The Book of the Short Sun (1999)

An exaggerated and solemn respect always indicates a loss of faith.

As you intend to live hereafter, it is in your power to live here.

The Book of the Long Sun (1993)

There are people who love birds so much they free them. There are others who love them so much they cage them.

The Book of the Long Sun (1993)

All Gene Wolfe quotes →

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Some of my youthful readers are developing wonderful imaginations. This pleases me.

L. Frank Baum Introduction to The Lost Princess of Oz (1917)

So what if a kid dies? God will take care of him.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev

Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man.

Rabindranath Tagore Stray Birds (1916)

Happiness is an imaginary condition, formerly attributed by the living to the dead, now usually attributed by adults to children, and by children to adults.

Thomas Szasz The Second Sin (1973)

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Gene Wolfe (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.