---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Children,” I say plainly, “watch out for…"
description: "\"“Children,” I say plainly, “watch out for the baobabs!”\" — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87b/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_children_children-i-say-plainly-watch-out-for-the_3176478.png"
---

#  Children,” I say plainly, “watch out for the baobabs!

![“Children,” I say plainly, “watch out for the baobabs!” quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87b/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_children_children-i-say-plainly-watch-out-for-the_3176478.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87b/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_children_children-i-say-plainly-watch-out-for-the_3176478.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87b/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_children_children-i-say-plainly-watch-out-for-the_3176478.png)

> ““Children,” I say plainly, “watch out for the baobabs!””

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The warning highlights the hidden dangers that can grow unnoticed and harm us if ignored.

**In simple terms:** Watch for hidden threats.

Key Takeaway

Stay vigilant.

Themes

responsibility awareness environment

Mood

cautious thoughtful

Type

advice warning

When to use this quote

- parenting
- gardening
- urban planning
- personal health

Key Concepts

Ecology metaphor

Questions to Reflect On

- What small problems are you overlooking?
- How can you address them early?

A Different Perspective

Neglecting small signs can lead to larger problems later.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/)

## Related quotes

> [“Watch out for the Baobabs!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/watch-out-for-the-baobabs/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [“When I made the drawing of the baobabs I was carried beyond myself by the inspiring force of urgent necessity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/when-i-made-the-drawing-of-the-baobabs-i-was-carried-beyond-myself-by/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [“Baobabs, before they grow big, start off small.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/baobabs-before-they-grow-big-start-off-small/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [“Before they grow so big, the baobabs start out by being little.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/before-they-grow-so-big-the-baobabs-start-out-by-being-little/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [Say what you say plainly, and then take responsibility for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/say-what-you-say-plainly-and-then-take-responsibility-for-it/)

[Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/)

> [I am utterly opposed to all equivocation or obscure expressions in our public acts. We are bound to say plainly what we mean to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-calhoun/i-am-utterly-opposed-to-all-equivocation-or-obscure-expressions-in/)

[John C. Calhoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-calhoun/)

> [When you do not know of a thing say so plainly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umar/when-you-do-not-know-of-a-thing-say-so-plainly/)

[Umar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umar/)

> [“The native calls the baobab 'the devil tree' because he claims that the devil, getting tangled in its branches, punished by the tree by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerzy-kosi-ski/the-native-calls-the-baobab-the-devil-tree-because-he-claims-that-the/)

[Jerzy Kosiński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerzy-kosi-ski/)

> [It's a question of discipline,' the little prince told me later on. 'when you've finished washing and dressing each morning, you must tend your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/it-s-a-question-of-discipline-the-little-prince-told-me-later-on-when/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [When you have children, you can't say you're not interested in money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloan-wilson/when-you-have-children-you-can-t-say-you-re-not-interested-in-money/)

[Sloan Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloan-wilson/)

> [We fail our children if we say, 'Don't do as I do, but do as I say'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/we-fail-our-children-if-we-say-don-t-do-as-i-do-but-do-as-i-say/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [“—What do the children say? —There's a thing the children say. —What do the children say? —They say: Will you always love me? —Always.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/what-do-the-children-say-there-s-a-thing-the-children-say-what-do-the/)

[Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/)

> [I envy children who know that they're going to become doctors, know they're going to go into the forces or whatever. I think choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/i-envy-children-who-know-that-they-re-going-to-become-doctors-know/)

[Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/)

> [Children never say that their father is the smartest; instead they boast that he's the strongest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrik-baboumian/children-never-say-that-their-father-is-the-smartest-instead-they/)

[Patrik Baboumian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrik-baboumian/)

> [“From my years of teaching I know it's the children who say nothing who are in trouble more than the ones who complain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-kogawa/from-my-years-of-teaching-i-know-it-s-the-children-who-say-nothing/)

[Joy Kogawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-kogawa/)

## More by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

> [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/a-rock-pile-ceases-to-be-a-rock-pile-the-moment-a-single-man/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [Treason implies responsibility for something, control over something, influence upon something, knowledge of something. Treason in our time is a proof of genius. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/treason-implies-responsibility-for-something-control-over-something/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [“perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/perfection-is-finally-attained-not-when-there-is-no-longer-anything/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [“But for fear of disheartening them, we also spoke to them of disappointments and the bitter taste that rest has after a useless action.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/but-for-fear-of-disheartening-them-we-also-spoke-to-them-of/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [“If you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-come-at-four-in-the-afternoon-i-ll-begin-to-be-happy-by-three/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [Once we are bound together to our brothers by a common good that is outside us, then we can breathe. Experience teaches us that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/once-we-are-bound-together-to-our-brothers-by-a-common-good-that-is/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [“The stars are beautiful, because of a flower that cannot be seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/the-stars-are-beautiful-because-of-a-flower-that-cannot-be-seen/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [“You are beautiful but you are empty. One could not die for you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/you-are-beautiful-but-you-are-empty-one-could-not-die-for-you/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [“And the fox said to the little prince: men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/and-the-fox-said-to-the-little-prince-men-have-forgotten-this-truth/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/and-now-here-is-my-secret-a-very-simple-secret-it-is-only-with-the/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [Flying is a man's job and its worries are a man's worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/flying-is-a-man-s-job-and-its-worries-are-a-man-s-worries/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [“You are not at all like my rose," he said. "As yet you are nothing. No one has tamed you, and you have tamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/you-are-not-at-all-like-my-rose-he-said-as-yet-you-are-nothing-no-one/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [Loneliness is bred of a mind that has grown earth-bound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/loneliness-is-bred-of-a-mind-that-has-grown-earth-bound/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [“Stretched out before the fire I looked at the glowing fruit and said to myself that men did not know what an orange was.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/stretched-out-before-the-fire-i-looked-at-the-glowing-fruit-and-said/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

[Explore all 719 Antoine de Saint-Exupéry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

## More Children quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/)

[Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/)

> [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/)

[Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/)

> [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/)

[Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/)

[Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/)

> [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/)

[Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/)

> [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/)

[Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/)

> [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/)

[Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/)

> [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/)

[Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/)

[Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Children,” I say plainly, “watch out for the baobabs!”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Antoine de Saint-Exupéry"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/children-i-say-plainly-watch-out-for-the-baobabs/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Children"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/children-i-say-plainly-watch-out-for-the-baobabs/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87b/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_children_children-i-say-plainly-watch-out-for-the_3176478.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87b/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_children_children-i-say-plainly-watch-out-for-the_3176478.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87b/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_children_children-i-say-plainly-watch-out-for-the_3176478.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Children,” I say plainly, “watch out for the baobabs!” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Antoine de Saint-Exupéry",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Children,” I say plainly, “watch out...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/children-i-say-plainly-watch-out-for-the-baobabs/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/children-i-say-plainly-watch-out-for-the-baobabs/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
