Age Quote by Charles Darwin
“It is well-known that those who have charge of young infants, that it is difficult to feel sure when certain movements about their mouths are really expressive; that is when they really smile. Hence I carefully watched my own infants. One of them at the age of forty-five days, and being in a happy frame of mind, smiled... I observed the same thing on the following day: but on the third day the child was not quite well and there was no trace of a smile, and this renders it probable that the previous smiles were real.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Correspondence with a colleague, 1870
Infant smiles may be genuine expressions of happiness, but illness can suppress them, suggesting that early emotional displays are linked to health.
In simple terms: Baby smiles reflect wellbeing; illness can mask them.
Key Takeaway
Observe infant expressions for health clues.
Themes
development
health
emotion
Mood
observational
clinical
Type
scientific
practical
When to use this quote
- pediatric care
- early childhood observation
- wellness monitoring
Key Concepts
biology
developmental psychology
parenting
Questions to Reflect On
- How can caregivers differentiate genuine joy from reflex?
- What other signs indicate infant health?
A Different Perspective
A smile isn’t always a reliable health indicator.
![“I am quite conscious that my speculations run beyond the bounds of true science…It is a mere rag of an hypothesis with as many flaw[s] & holes as sound parts.” quote by Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/958/charles-darwin-507_bounds_i-am-quite-conscious-that-my-speculation_35382.jpg)
