Children Quote by Cecelia Ahern
““You know, it’s interesting. Children learn much more, far more quickly than adults. Do you know why that is?” Elizabeth assumed there was some scientific explanation for it, but shook her head. “Because they’re open-minded. Because they want to know and they want to learn. Adults”—he shook his head sadly—“think they know it all. They grow up and forget so easily instead of opening their minds, they choose what to believe and what not to believe. You can’t make a choice on things like that, you either believe or you don’t. That’s why their learning is slower. They are more cynical, they lose faith, and they only demand to know things that will help them get by day by day. They’ve no interest in the extras. But, Elizabeth,” he said, his voice a loud whisper, eyes wide and sparkling, and Elizabeth shivered as goose pimples rose on her arms. She felt as if he were sharing the world’s greatest secret with her. “It’s the extras that make life.” “That make life what?” she whispered. He smiled. “That make life.” Elizabeth swallowed the lump in her throat. “That’s it?” Ivan smiled. “What do you mean, that’s it? How much more can you get than life, how much more can you ask for than life? That’s the gift. Life is everything, and you haven’t lived it properly until you believe.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Secret Life of Learning, 2020
Children learn faster because they keep an open mind, while adults often become closed and cynical, limiting deeper understanding.
In simple terms: Open minds learn more; closed minds learn less.
Cultivate curiosity and openness at any age.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education
- personal development
- parenting
- career training
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What beliefs limit your learning?
- How can you rekindle child‑like curiosity?
Adults can overcome cynicism with deliberate practice and humility.