--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we maintain the open-mindedness of…" description: "\"If we maintain the open-mindedness of children, we challenge fixed ideas and established structures, including our own. We listen to people in other de..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/brennan-manning-959_challenges_if-we-maintain-the-open-mindedness-of-ch_1527124.jpg" --- # If we maintain the open-mindedness of children, we… ![“If we maintain the open-mindedness of children, we challenge fixed ideas and established structures, including our own. We listen to people in other denominations and religions. We don't find demons in those with whom we disagree. We don't cozy up to people who mouth our jargon. If we are open, we…” quote by Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/brennan-manning-959_challenges_if-we-maintain-the-open-mindedness-of-ch_1527124.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/brennan-manning-959_challenges_if-we-maintain-the-open-mindedness-of-ch_1527124.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/brennan-manning-959_challenges_if-we-maintain-the-open-mindedness-of-ch_1527124.jpg) > “If we maintain the open-mindedness of children, we challenge fixed ideas and established structures, including our own. We listen to people in other denominations and religions. We don't find demons in those with whom we disagree. We don't cozy up to people who mouth our jargon. If we are open, we rarely resort to either-or: either creation or evolution, liberty or law, sacred or secular, Beethoven or Madonna. We focus on both-and, fully aware that God's truth cannot be imprisoned in a small definition.” [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Keeping childlike openness lets us question entrenched beliefs and embrace diverse perspectives, avoiding binary thinking and recognizing truth beyond narrow definitions. **In simple terms:** Stay open, avoid black‑and‑white thinking. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity and inclusivity. Themes open‑mindedness dialogue diversity truth complexity Mood thoughtful reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - interfaith discussions - team meetings - education - conflict resolution Key Concepts philosophy theology psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance openness with firm convictions? - When does “both‑and” become unproductive? A Different Perspective Open‑mindedness can be seen as indecisiveness or lack of conviction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Cozy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cozy/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Demon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demon/) [Denominations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denominations/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Jargon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jargon/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Open mindedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-mindedness/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Resorts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resorts/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Secular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) ## Related quotes > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [This product that was on TV was available for four easy payments of $19.95. 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I challenge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/nobody-challenges-me-i-challenge-myself/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [Challenging is good, like good conversation, yes? Who wants to have dinner with the same old easy listening music sounding friends all the time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/challenging-is-good-like-good-conversation-yes-who-wants-to-have/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) [Browse all 8,851 Challenges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we maintain the open-mindedness of children, we challenge fixed ideas and established structures, including our own. We listen to people in other denominations and religions. We don't find demons in those with whom we disagree. We don't cozy up to people who mouth our jargon. 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