--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everyone knows that by far the happiest…" description: "\"Everyone knows that by far the happiest and universally enjoyable age of man is the first. What is there about babies which makes us hug and kiss and f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/desiderius-erasmus-3351_age_everyone-knows-that-by-far-the-happiest_1815734.jpg" --- # Everyone knows that by far the happiest and universally… ![“Everyone knows that by far the happiest and universally enjoyable age of man is the first. What is there about babies which makes us hug and kiss and fondle them, so that even an enemy would give them help at that age?” quote by Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/desiderius-erasmus-3351_age_everyone-knows-that-by-far-the-happiest_1815734.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/desiderius-erasmus-3351_age_everyone-knows-that-by-far-the-happiest_1815734.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/desiderius-erasmus-3351_age_everyone-knows-that-by-far-the-happiest_1815734.jpg) > “Everyone knows that by far the happiest and universally enjoyable age of man is the first. What is there about babies which makes us hug and kiss and fondle them, so that even an enemy would give them help at that age?” [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Infants naturally evoke protective instincts, prompting universal affection and aid. **In simple terms:** Babies trigger innate caring. Key Takeaway Recognize and nurture innate compassion. Themes human nature compassion innate behavior Mood warm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - parenting - charitable work - community support - conflict zones Key Concepts evolutionary psychology empathy Questions to Reflect On - Why do humans feel compelled to protect infants? - How can this instinct be harnessed for broader social good? A Different Perspective Cultural differences may affect responses. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Babies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/babies/) [Babies Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/babies-makes-2152308/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Enjoyable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyable/) [Enjoyable Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyable-age-2152307/) [Hug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hug/) [Hug Kiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hug-kiss/) [Man Babies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-babies-1102810/) ## Related quotes > [“Hey, remember when you didn’t know that you wanted Otter to spray his man babies all over your face and we didn’t have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-klune/hey-remember-when-you-didn-t-know-that-you-wanted-otter-to-spray-his/) [T.J. Klune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-klune/) > [You Are The Beat To My Heart. 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(Great love)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kipyang/sweetly-be-kissed-i-really-miss-every-hug-and-kiss-a-great-love-is/) [Kipyang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kipyang/) > [Your smile my smile your laugh my laugh your hug my hug your kiss my kiss your dream my dream one day we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria/your-smile-my-smile-your-laugh-my-laugh-your-hug-my-hug-your-kiss-my/) [Victoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria/) > [A hug,a kiss,and a call ,are one of the finest and expensive gifts from my heart to someone special like you on this special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-hug-a-kiss-and-a-call-are-one-of-the-finest-and-expensive-gifts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To those of you that still have their dads in their lives, hug them and kiss them and tell them you love them while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/to-those-of-you-that-still-have-their-dads-in-their-lives-hug-them/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I only want 3 things: See you. Hug you. Kiss you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shruti/i-only-want-3-things-see-you-hug-you-kiss-you/) [Shruti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shruti/) ## More by Desiderius Erasmus > [Wherever you encounter truth, look upon it as Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/wherever-you-encounter-truth-look-upon-it-as-christianity/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [War is delightful for those who don't know it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/war-is-delightful-for-those-who-don-t-know-it/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [They may attack me with an army of six hundred syllogisms; and if I do not recant, they will proclaim me a heretic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/they-may-attack-me-with-an-army-of-six-hundred-syllogisms-and-if-i-do/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [Invoked or not invoked, the god is present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/invoked-or-not-invoked-the-god-is-present/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [Eagles don't catch flies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/eagles-don-t-catch-flies/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [The entire world is my temple, and a very fine one too, if I'm not mistaken, and I'll never lack priests to serve it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/the-entire-world-is-my-temple-and-a-very-fine-one-too-if-i-m-not/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [A good prince will tax as lightly as possible those commodities which are used by the poorest members of society: grain, bread, beer, wine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/a-good-prince-will-tax-as-lightly-as-possible-those-commodities-which/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [Christians would show sense if they dispatched these argumentative Scotists and pigheaded Ockhamists and undefeated Albertists along with the whole regiment of Sophists to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/christians-would-show-sense-if-they-dispatched-these-argumentative/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/when-i-get-a-little-money-i-buy-books-and-if-any-is-left-i-buy-food/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [From hence, no question, has sprung an observation ... confirmed now into a settled opinion, that some long experienced souls in the world, before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/from-hence-no-question-has-sprung-an-observation-confirmed-now-into-a/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [Nothing is so foolish, they say, as for a man to stand for office and woo the crowd to win its vote, buy its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/nothing-is-so-foolish-they-say-as-for-a-man-to-stand-for-office-and/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [Retain the wind by compressing the belly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/retain-the-wind-by-compressing-the-belly/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [So our student will flit like a busy bee through the entire garden of literature, light on every blossom, collect a little nectar from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/so-our-student-will-flit-like-a-busy-bee-through-the-entire-garden-of/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [By identifying the new learning with heresy, you make orthodoxy synonymous with ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/by-identifying-the-new-learning-with-heresy-you-make-orthodoxy/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [Now what else is the whole life of mortals, but a sort of comedy in which the various actors, disguised by various costumes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/now-what-else-is-the-whole-life-of-mortals-but-a-sort-of-comedy-in/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) [Explore all 124 Desiderius Erasmus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." 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