It takes more wisdom to be a child than to be an adult.
C.S. Lewis understood this, but not until he was fifty.
“When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty, I read them openly. When I became a man, I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”
Thank you Sue Vincent for posting this a long time ago. It has stayed with me. I want to keep these words alive. Read fairy tales with abandon. Read them out loud. They have far more wisdom than we realize. Sometimes it takes us until we’re fifty to truly understand. C.S. Lewis got it.
Jennie
About Jennie
I have been teaching preschool for over forty years. This is my passion. I believe that children have a voice, and that is the catalyst to enhance or even change the learning experience. Emergent curriculum opens young minds. It's the little things that happen in the classroom that are most important and exciting. That's what I write about.
I was a live guest on the Kelly Clarkson Show. I am highlighted in the seventh edition of Jim Trelease's million-copy bestselling book, "The Read-Aloud Handbook" because of my reading to children. My class has designed quilts that hang as permanent displays at the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, the Fisher House at the Boston VA Hospital, and the Massachusetts State House in Boston.
A Teacher's Reflections 
I didn’t know that’s where this quote came from (putting away childish things). Good to know.
Thanks, Anneli. I heard this decades ago, and like you, I’m glad to know the source..
Hi! Actually… C.S. Lewis is quoting the Bible. the book of 1 Corinthians, I believe. 🙂
Thank you, Brianna.
We’ll get to the bottom of this yet! Thanks, Brianna.
I so relate! How wonderful. Never lose the child in you!
Absolutely!
A lovely quote, Jennie. I think getting old frees us up to be young and carefree in multiple ways. 🙂 CS Lewis got it right. 🙂
Well said, Diana. Thank you!
He did get it, Jennie. Thanks
Yes, he did. We can, too. There’s hope for us all.
I like the word, “all.” It says a lot about you. 😊
Thank you very much, John 😊
😊
Here, here!! Love this quote.
One of the best!
This really means a lot to me. Thank you Sue and Jennie!
You’re welcome, Anne!
Love this!
😀
I missed childhood when I was young so I’m having it now. I’m old enough to really enjoy it and take full advantage of it. 🙂 I do so very much love this quote. Thank you.
C.S. Lewis would smile and nod his head at your words, Marlene. I feel the same way. 🙂
A brilliant quote, and so relevant now, where many children and teens haven’t really had a childhood, wanting to grow up too fast… I hope they all realise their lost childhoods when they get a bit older and live it. We can only try and encourage it at the right age, as teachers, but they need to live it.
I miss my childhood!!! ❤️
Beautifully said and so true, Ritu. I worry about children today. Technology is not helping childhood. You are in the thick of teens and seeing many growing up too fast. If they discover their childhood later in life, that is a good thing. And hopefully they will live it.
I hope so Jennie… Though I’d rather they experience it now!!!
Absolutely!
I hope children today will also discover a connection to the natural world, rambling through the woods in search of imagined wonders.
Yes, YES!
Well said, Ritu! I miss my childhood, too.
Oh me too. The kids nowadays think they’ve got it made with all their technology etc… They don’t have a clue of the freedom they’re missing out on…
You’re right about the freedom we had. In the summer, my brother and I were pretty much outside all day, exploring, playing games, meeting up with other kids, doing as we pleased, just going back to the house for meals.
Life is much harder!
A wonderful quote to start my day, Jennie! 😀 It sure does take a while to realise how amazing it is to embrace that ‘childishness’ and how it is anything but childish!
Well said, Annika! I’m glad you liked this quote. 🙂
Lewis certainly understood how the circle of life allows you to enjoy a second childhood, if you so wish. We all need to embrace the simple joy of being a child, on occasion.
Best wishes, Pete.
He did, Pete. And yes, we do need to embrace being a child. Best to you.
This is a very nice post, Jennie – I love the notion of not being afraid of childishness.
This really struck a chord with me, too. Thank you, Dan.
Such a perfect quote and one that rings true for many of us. I see my 90-year-old mother happy and enjoying life. It’s probably the happiest she has ever been. You are never too old to enjoy a happy childhood.
Well said, Darlene. How nice to see your mother like that. 🙂
Yay! What an excellent quote! I love C.S. Lewis! Thanks for posting this, Jennie!
I’m so glad you liked this one! Thank you.
A very true quote. Thank you for sharing this, Jennie! Have a beautiful weekend! Michael
Thank you, Michael. Happy weekend to you, too.
:-))
I do love C.S. Lewis and this is an excellent quote. Although I do believe that he took the phrase ‘when I became a man, I put away childish things’ from I Corinthians Chapter 13, Verse 11. I spent several summers as a child going to an Old Mennonite Church summer vacation Bible School. We were not Mennonite, but my Mother saw no harm and it took us from under her feet part of the long summer. I learned this particular verse from the kind hearted Mennonite women teachers and can recite it to this day. I’m very fond of these words from Albert Einstein : “If you want your children to be intelligent, read the fairy tales. If you want your children to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” Thank-you!
Sorry, “read them fairy tales” not “the”.
I knew. No worries. 🙂
Lovely story, Ellen. I can picture those summers, as my husband is from Pennsylvania. Funny thing, I was debating between posting this quote, or the Einstein quote you mention. Really! They are both dear to my heart.
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Jennie, thank you for this extremely important lesson!
Thank you, Charles!
Jennie, thank you so much for this post!
You are very welcome, Charles!
A lovely quote, Jennie. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Robbie.
I’ve enjoyed reading kids’ books all my life – though I would never have admitted it in my teens and twenties!
😀
“What once was thought of as childish fairytales, is actually how life works!”
You have a very powerful and true post here, Jennie!
Bless you and my heart, thanks your heart…
Thank you, Ren. It really is how life works. I’m glad you feel that, too. Heart to heart.
Yes! “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” ~Matthew 18:3
Thank you for this quote, Mitch!
Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
Thank you!
Always a pleasure to share your posts, My Friend!
xoxoxo
🙂
And now it will stay with me.
Thank you, Sue and Jennie.
You are welcome, Hook. I’m glad this will stay with you. Childhood is the best!
Great quote – the wisdom of a child.
Indeed! Thank you, Norah.
He’s one of my favourite writers! 😄
😀
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Thank you!
So relatable!
Yes, indeed!