--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes a child with wise eyes is born…" description: "\"“Sometimes a child with wise eyes is born. Then some people will call that child an old soul. That is enough to make God laugh. For instance there is Y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/helen-oyeyemi-1658_children_sometimes-a-child-with-wise-eyes-is-born_270502.jpg" --- # Sometimes a child with wise eyes is born. Then some people… ![“Sometimes a child with wise eyes is born. Then some people will call that child an old soul. That is enough to make God laugh. For instance there is Yemaya Saramagua, who lives in the somewherehouse.” quote by Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/helen-oyeyemi-1658_children_sometimes-a-child-with-wise-eyes-is-born_270502.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/helen-oyeyemi-1658_children_sometimes-a-child-with-wise-eyes-is-born_270502.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/helen-oyeyemi-1658_children_sometimes-a-child-with-wise-eyes-is-born_270502.jpg) > ““Sometimes a child with wise eyes is born. Then some people will call that child an old soul. That is enough to make God laugh. For instance there is Yemaya Saramagua, who lives in the somewherehouse.”” [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child’s deep insight can be labeled as an “old soul,” prompting divine amusement and highlighting the mystery of wisdom in youth. **In simple terms:** Wise children are called old souls, making even God smile. Key Takeaway Recognize and cherish unexpected wisdom. Themes wisdom age divine humor identity perception Mood playful thoughtful whimsical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - parenting - education - intergenerational dialogue - spiritual reflection Key Concepts spirituality psychology literary symbolism Questions to Reflect On - How do we value insight regardless of age? - What does “old soul” reveal about our expectations? A Different Perspective Labeling wisdom can limit a child’s growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Old soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-soul/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“I would like to have a child. A very wise and witty little girl who’d grow up to be the woman I could never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-like-to-have-a-child-a-very-wise-and-witty-little-girl-who-d/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Teach a child what is wise, that is morality. Teach him what is wise and beautiful, that is religion!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/teach-a-child-what-is-wise-that-is-morality-teach-him-what-is-wise/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [“For you, I am like a child. For others, I am very wise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santosh-kalwar/for-you-i-am-like-a-child-for-others-i-am-very-wise/) [Santosh Kalwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santosh-kalwar/) > [“Happy!" He leaned over the rail and tried to hold her eyes. But that is hard to do, for eyes are born dodgers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-paley/happy-he-leaned-over-the-rail-and-tried-to-hold-her-eyes-but-that-is/) [Grace Paley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-paley/) > [“Anyone with eyes can see you were born beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-elle-strauss/anyone-with-eyes-can-see-you-were-born-beautiful/) Lee (Elle) Strauss > [blindness is a private matter between a person and the eyes with which he or she was born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/blindness-is-a-private-matter-between-a-person-and-the-eyes-with/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [Always knew I was not like everybody else, if you were blue I would paint myself just to stand out. All I ever want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel/always-knew-i-was-not-like-everybody-else-if-you-were-blue-i-would/) [Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel/) > [I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead; I lift my eyes and all is born again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-shut-my-eyes-and-all-the-world-drops-dead-i-lift-my-eyes-and-all-is/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I was born with these eyes. I was born for this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-was-born-with-these-eyes-i-was-born-for-this-life/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Proverbs 3:7–8 7Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. 8It will be health to your flesh,a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-macarthur-jr/proverbs-3-7-8-7do-not-be-wise-in-your-own-eyes-fear-the-lord-and/) [John F. MacArthur Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-macarthur-jr/) > [“You want to know why we're the ones responsible?" Gunny asked. I looked up into a pair of wise eyes that had seen far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale/you-want-to-know-why-we-re-the-ones-responsible-gunny-asked-i-looked/) [D.J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale/) > [“Do not be wise your own eyes. Seek the ways of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/do-not-be-wise-your-own-eyes-seek-the-ways-of-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“If questioning would make us wise no eyes would ever gaze in eyes; if all of our tale were told in speech, no mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-archer/if-questioning-would-make-us-wise-no-eyes-would-ever-gaze-in-eyes-if/) Bill Archer > [She reached down and traced my eyebrows. 'You do have really beautiful eyes.' 'We get to keep them,' I said. Grace started at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/she-reached-down-and-traced-my-eyebrows-you-do-have-really-beautiful/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Because in the pupils of his eyes there lingered the mysterious and eternal horizon that the sea leaves as a keepsake deep in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/because-in-the-pupils-of-his-eyes-there-lingered-the-mysterious-and/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) ## More by Helen Oyeyemi > [“Juju is not enough to protect you. Everything you have I will turn against you. I'll turn sugar bitter for you. I'll take your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/juju-is-not-enough-to-protect-you-everything-you-have-i-will-turn/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“Marriage is no real excuse for not loving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/marriage-is-no-real-excuse-for-not-loving/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [I do tend to feel more connected to dead writers, perhaps because they have finished their work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-do-tend-to-feel-more-connected-to-dead-writers-perhaps-because-they/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“People don’t make too much money around here, but what comes with that is a different definition of what it means to be well-off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/people-don-t-make-too-much-money-around-here-but-what-comes-with-that/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“He looked honored, extraordinarily honored, seeming to care for that which tore his flesh than he did for the flesh itself, embracing the blade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/he-looked-honored-extraordinarily-honored-seeming-to-care-for-that/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“White-flowered shrubs thickened around her and so did sleep; it directed her limbs. Lie down now, sleep said sweetly. Lie down. These are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/white-flowered-shrubs-thickened-around-her-and-so-did-sleep-it/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [I don't despise 'Don Quixote,' but it is a book I don't... get. I'll have to come back it. Maybe there'll be a gateway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-don-t-despise-don-quixote-but-it-is-a-book-i-don-t-get-i-ll-have-to/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“I think her favorite thing about our . . . collaboration was her actor and musician friends rubbing shoulders with my academic colleagues, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-think-her-favorite-thing-about-our-collaboration-was-her-actor-and/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“After half an hour the Senora emerged, short of breath, with flushed cheeks…as uf she'd been seized and shaken like a faulty thermometer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/after-half-an-hour-the-senora-emerged-short-of-breath-with-flushed/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“It was the usual struggle between one who loves by accepting burdens and one who loves by refusing to be”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/it-was-the-usual-struggle-between-one-who-loves-by-accepting-burdens/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“Pops says he loves me just the way I am, but not everyone in the world is like my father. Maman, for example. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/pops-says-he-loves-me-just-the-way-i-am-but-not-everyone-in-the-world/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“With boys there was a fundamental assumption that they had a right to be there—not always, but more often than not. With girls, Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/with-boys-there-was-a-fundamental-assumption-that-they-had-a-right-to/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [The more forcibly I'm made aware of the fact that I'll never be the kind of storyteller I most admire, the less I'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/the-more-forcibly-i-m-made-aware-of-the-fact-that-i-ll-never-be-the/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [The girl was lighter without her heart. She danced barefoot on the hot roads, and her feet were not cut by the glass or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/the-girl-was-lighter-without-her-heart-she-danced-barefoot-on-the-hot/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“So her missing person's poster features a girl with long hair and dreamy eyes that don't see the fracture coming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/so-her-missing-person-s-poster-features-a-girl-with-long-hair-and/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) [Explore all 218 Helen Oyeyemi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“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 a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sometimes a child with wise eyes is born. Then some people will call that child an old soul. That is enough to make God laugh. For instance there is Yemaya Saramagua, who lives in the somewherehouse.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Helen Oyeyemi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/sometimes-a-child-with-wise-eyes-is-born-then-some-people-will-call/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/sometimes-a-child-with-wise-eyes-is-born-then-some-people-will-call/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/helen-oyeyemi-1658_children_sometimes-a-child-with-wise-eyes-is-born_270502.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/helen-oyeyemi-1658_children_sometimes-a-child-with-wise-eyes-is-born_270502.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/helen-oyeyemi-1658_children_sometimes-a-child-with-wise-eyes-is-born_270502.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes a child with wise eyes is born. Then some people will call that child an old soul. That is enough…” — Helen Oyeyemi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Helen Oyeyemi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Sometimes a child with wise eyes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/sometimes-a-child-with-wise-eyes-is-born-then-some-people-will-call/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/sometimes-a-child-with-wise-eyes-is-born-then-some-people-will-call/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```