--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never try to fool children, they expect…" description: "\"Never try to fool children, they expect nothing, and therefore see everything...\" — Harry Houdini" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/harry-houdini-12485_children_never-try-to-fool-children-they-expect-n_1417001.jpg" --- # Never try to fool children, they expect nothing, and… ![“Never try to fool children, they expect nothing, and therefore see everything...” quote by Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/harry-houdini-12485_children_never-try-to-fool-children-they-expect-n_1417001.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/harry-houdini-12485_children_never-try-to-fool-children-they-expect-n_1417001.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/harry-houdini-12485_children_never-try-to-fool-children-they-expect-n_1417001.jpg) > “Never try to fool children, they expect nothing, and therefore see everything...” [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children’s lack of expectations makes them open to truth, seeing reality without bias. **In simple terms:** Kids see truth because they expect nothing. Key Takeaway Value simplicity and openness. Themes innocence perception truth learning Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - parenting - education - creative work - conflict resolution Key Concepts cognitive bias mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can you cultivate childlike openness? - What biases do expectations create? A Different Perspective Adults may overinterpret simplicity, missing nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Expect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-expect-1953608/) [Expect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expect/) [Expect nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expect-nothing/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Fool Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool-children-974214/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Try Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-fool-340436/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [You can't fool children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/you-can-t-fool-children/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [I don't want to try to fool people into thinking that I'm something that I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/i-don-t-want-to-try-to-fool-people-into-thinking-that-i-m-something/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [Fool me once...you get a pass. Try to fool me twice...and I beat your ass...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/fool-me-once-you-get-a-pass-try-to-fool-me-twice-and-i-beat-your-ass/) [Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/) > [Try me fool..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/try-me-fool/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Expect nothing and accept everything and you will never be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-overmire/expect-nothing-and-accept-everything-and-you-will-never-be/) [Laurence Overmire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-overmire/) > [Expect nothing. Today: that is your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-tucholsky/expect-nothing-today-that-is-your-life/) [Kurt Tucholsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-tucholsky/) > [Expect Nothing, Do Your Work, Celebrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-olitski/expect-nothing-do-your-work-celebrate/) [Jules Olitski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-olitski/) > [I made up my mind that I would hold onto nothing, that I would expect nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/i-made-up-my-mind-that-i-would-hold-onto-nothing-that-i-would-expect/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Freedom (n.): To ask nothing. To expect nothing. To depend on nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/freedom-n-to-ask-nothing-to-expect-nothing-to-depend-on-nothing/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Invest in yourself first. Expect nothing from no one and be willing to work for everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/invest-in-yourself-first-expect-nothing-from-no-one-and-be-willing-to/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) > [When you give, expect nothing from people and everything from Allah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-suleiman/when-you-give-expect-nothing-from-people-and-everything-from-allah/) [Omar Suleiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-suleiman/) > [Years ago I heard the Indian Jesuit Raimundo Panikkar say: Expect Nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-fagg/years-ago-i-heard-the-indian-jesuit-raimundo-panikkar-say-expect/) [Lawrence Fagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-fagg/) > [My songs are like my children - I expect them to support me when I'm old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/my-songs-are-like-my-children-i-expect-them-to-support-me-when-i-m-old/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [You should be an example for your children. I show my three children what I am and expect them to live by certain controls.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-yesudas/you-should-be-an-example-for-your-children-i-show-my-three-children/) [K. J. Yesudas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-yesudas/) > [I imagine I will spend my days traveling from country to country to visit our children, who I expect will live around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-imagine-i-will-spend-my-days-traveling-from-country-to-country-to/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) ## More by Harry Houdini > [Look at this life - all mystery and magic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/look-at-this-life-all-mystery-and-magic/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [Magic is the sole science not accepted by scientists, because they can't understand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/magic-is-the-sole-science-not-accepted-by-scientists-because-they-can/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [Flames from the lips may be produced by holding in the mouth a sponge saturated with the purest gasoline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/flames-from-the-lips-may-be-produced-by-holding-in-the-mouth-a-sponge/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [Another method of eating burning coals employs small balls of burned cotton in a dish of burning alcohol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/another-method-of-eating-burning-coals-employs-small-balls-of-burned/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [I am not an irretrievable skeptic. I am not hopelessly prejudiced. I am perfectly willing to believe, and my mind is wide open; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/i-am-not-an-irretrievable-skeptic-i-am-not-hopelessly-prejudiced-i-am/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [Keep up your enthusiasm! There is nothing more contagious than exuberant enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/keep-up-your-enthusiasm-there-is-nothing-more-contagious-than/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [No prison can hold me; no hand or leg irons or steel locks can shackle me. No ropes or chains can keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/no-prison-can-hold-me-no-hand-or-leg-irons-or-steel-locks-can-shackle/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [Anyone who believes in magic is a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/anyone-who-believes-in-magic-is-a-fool/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [No performer should attempt to bite off red-hot iron unless he has a good set of teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/no-performer-should-attempt-to-bite-off-red-hot-iron-unless-he-has-a/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [I'm tired of fighting...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/i-m-tired-of-fighting/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [What the eyes sees, the ear hears, and the mind believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/what-the-eyes-sees-the-ear-hears-and-the-mind-believes/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [To cause the face to appear in a mass of flame make use of the following: mix together thoroughly petroleum, lard, mutton tallow and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/to-cause-the-face-to-appear-in-a-mass-of-flame-make-use-of-the/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [But then, so far as I know, I am the only performer who ever pledged his assistants to secrecy, honor and allegiance under a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/but-then-so-far-as-i-know-i-am-the-only-performer-who-ever-pledged/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [The eating of burning brimstone is an entirely fake performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/the-eating-of-burning-brimstone-is-an-entirely-fake-performance/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [My Brain is the key that sets me free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/my-brain-is-the-key-that-sets-me-free/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) [Explore all 54 Harry Houdini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) ## More Child quotes > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [“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 parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-parents-who-make-every-effort-we-can-to-raise-our-children-in/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I'm a weirdo and an only child. That comes together to create one-woman shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-m-a-weirdo-and-an-only-child-that-comes-together-to-create-one/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/to-assist-a-child-we-must-provide-him-with-an-environment-which-will/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [if we center our lives on BMWs, RVs, VCRs, PCs and the other acronyms of consumerism, we cannot expect our children to do otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnetta-b-cole/if-we-center-our-lives-on-bmws-rvs-vcrs-pcs-and-the-other-acronyms-of/) [Johnnetta B. 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