--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that children have a power to…" description: "\"I think that children have a power to imagine that is almost magical when compared to the adult imagination, and this is something irrevocable that a c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/joseph-weizenbaum-32968_adults_i-think-that-children-have-a-power-to-im_946710.jpg" --- # I think that children have a power to imagine that is… ![“I think that children have a power to imagine that is almost magical when compared to the adult imagination, and this is something irrevocable that a child loses when he or she becomes bound by logic. We adults continue to have our children” quote by Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/joseph-weizenbaum-32968_adults_i-think-that-children-have-a-power-to-im_946710.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/joseph-weizenbaum-32968_adults_i-think-that-children-have-a-power-to-im_946710.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/joseph-weizenbaum-32968_adults_i-think-that-children-have-a-power-to-im_946710.jpg) > “I think that children have a power to imagine that is almost magical when compared to the adult imagination, and this is something irrevocable that a child loses when he or she becomes bound by logic. We adults continue to have our children” [Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children retain a vivid, boundless imagination that adults often lose when constrained by logical thinking. **In simple terms:** Children imagine magically; adults become logical. Key Takeaway Nurture childlike wonder in adulthood. Themes imagination creativity growth Mood nostalgic reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - creative writing - problem solving - parenting - artistic pursuits Key Concepts cognitive development psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can adults reclaim imaginative freedom? - What value does childlike imagination bring to adult life? A Different Perspective Adults may suppress imagination to fit societal norms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adult Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adult-imagination-1657566/) [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-power-1657568/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Imagination Irrevocable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination-irrevocable-1657567/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Imagine that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine-that/) [Irrevocable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrevocable/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logic/) [Loses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loses/) [Our children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-children/) [Think Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-children/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [If you're already somebody who's feeling different, you'll do everything in your power to fix it because children will do everything in their power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzo-aduba/if-you-re-already-somebody-who-s-feeling-different-you-ll-do/) [Uzo Aduba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzo-aduba/) > [If you manipulate, coerce, and bully your children, you will have no power at all. If you lead with humility, gentleness, and by example,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-martin/if-you-manipulate-coerce-and-bully-your-children-you-will-have-no/) [William Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-martin/) > [I believe that once people really grasp what is at stake for their health and their lives, and for the health and lives of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-chivian/i-believe-that-once-people-really-grasp-what-is-at-stake-for-their/) [Eric Chivian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-chivian/) > [We are like newborn children, Our power is the power to grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-are-like-newborn-children-our-power-is-the-power-to-grow/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [I foresee that man will resign himself each day to more atrocious undertakings; soon there will be no one but warriors and brigands; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-foresee-that-man-will-resign-himself-each-day-to-more-atrocious/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Certain people, in their eagerness to construct a world no external threat can penetrate build exaggeratedly high defense againts the outside world, againts new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/certain-people-in-their-eagerness-to-construct-a-world-no-external/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I've always thought tests are a gift. And great tests are a great gift. To fail the test is a misfortune. But to refuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/i-ve-always-thought-tests-are-a-gift-and-great-tests-are-a-great-gift/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Avoid making irrevocable decisions while tired or hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/avoid-making-irrevocable-decisions-while-tired-or-hungry/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [...true love is an irrevocable act - you can only give your heart away once - after that, you give as much as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/true-love-is-an-irrevocable-act-you-can-only-give-your-heart-away/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [In retrospect, each of the steps toward this abyss seemed irrevocable, and yet they had all been so small!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-blish/in-retrospect-each-of-the-steps-toward-this-abyss-seemed-irrevocable/) [James Blish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-blish/) > [It is hard to have patience with people who say ''There is no death'' or ''Death doesn't matter'.' There is death. And whatever is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-hard-to-have-patience-with-people-who-say-there-is-no-death-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What astonishing changes a few years are capable of producing! I am told that even respectable characters speak of a monarchical form of government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/what-astonishing-changes-a-few-years-are-capable-of-producing-i-am/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Time lost is time not filled, time left empty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/time-lost-is-time-not-filled-time-left-empty/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [The true sweetness of chess, if it ever can be sweet, is to see a victory snatched, by some happy impertinence, out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells/the-true-sweetness-of-chess-if-it-ever-can-be-sweet-is-to-see-a/) [H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/) > [Life's unfairness is not irrevocable; we can help balance the scales for others, if not always for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/life-s-unfairness-is-not-irrevocable-we-can-help-balance-the-scales/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) ## More by Joseph Weizenbaum > [Putting a computer in front of a child and expecting it to teach him is like putting a book under his pillow, only more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/putting-a-computer-in-front-of-a-child-and-expecting-it-to-teach-him/) [Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) > [“I have spoken here of what ought and ought not to be done, of what is morally repugnant, and of what is dangerous. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/i-have-spoken-here-of-what-ought-and-ought-not-to-be-done-of-what-is/) [Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) > [“What I had not realized is that extremely short exposures to a relatively simple computer program could induce powerful delusional thinking in quite normal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/what-i-had-not-realized-is-that-extremely-short-exposures-to-a/) [Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) > [Being personally acquainted with a number of Waldorf students, I can say that they come closer to realizing their own potential than practically anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/being-personally-acquainted-with-a-number-of-waldorf-students-i-can/) [Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) > [Man is not a machine, ... although man most certainly processes information, he does not necessarily process it in the way computers do. Computers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/man-is-not-a-machine-although-man-most-certainly-processes/) [Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) > [Science promised man power. But, as so often happens when people are seduced by promises of power, the price is servitude and impotence. Power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/science-promised-man-power-but-as-so-often-happens-when-people-are/) [Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) > [“If the teacher, if anyone, is to be an example of a whole person to others, he must first strive to be a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/if-the-teacher-if-anyone-is-to-be-an-example-of-a-whole-person-to/) [Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) > [“I cannot tell why the spokesmen I have cited want the developments I forecast to become true. Some of them have told me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/i-cannot-tell-why-the-spokesmen-i-have-cited-want-the-developments-i/) [Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) > [The computer programmer is a creator of universes for which he alone is responsible. Universes of virtually unlimited complexity can be created in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/the-computer-programmer-is-a-creator-of-universes-for-which-he-alone/) [Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) > [A computer will do what you tell it to do, but that may be much different from what you had in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/a-computer-will-do-what-you-tell-it-to-do-but-that-may-be-much/) [Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) > [“It is a widely held but a grievously mistaken belief that civil courage finds exercise only in the context of world-shaking events. To the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/it-is-a-widely-held-but-a-grievously-mistaken-belief-that-civil/) [Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) > [The computer programmer is a creator of universes for which he alone is the lawgiver. No playwright, no stage director, no emperor, however powerful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/the-computer-programmer-is-a-creator-of-universes-for-which-he-alone-2/) [Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) > [“Our time prides itself on having finally achieved the freedom from censorship for which libertarians in all ages have struggled...The credit for these great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/our-time-prides-itself-on-having-finally-achieved-the-freedom-from/) [Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) [Explore all 14 Joseph Weizenbaum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) ## More Adults 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [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/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) [K. Anders Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-anders-ericsson/) > [Part of life is doing stuff that you don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/part-of-life-is-doing-stuff-that-you-don-t-want-to-do/) [One Who Does Not Wish To Be Named](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [When I was a child at sixteen, I was just a child. All sixteen year-olds are just children. As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) [Browse all 3,113 Adults quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that children have a power to imagine that is almost magical when compared to the adult imagination, and this is something irrevocable that a child loses when he or she becomes bound by logic. We adults continue to have our children", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Weizenbaum" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/i-think-that-children-have-a-power-to-imagine-that-is-almost-magical/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adults" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/i-think-that-children-have-a-power-to-imagine-that-is-almost-magical/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/joseph-weizenbaum-32968_adults_i-think-that-children-have-a-power-to-im_946710.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/joseph-weizenbaum-32968_adults_i-think-that-children-have-a-power-to-im_946710.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/joseph-weizenbaum-32968_adults_i-think-that-children-have-a-power-to-im_946710.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that children have a power to imagine that is almost magical when compared to the adult imagination…” — Joseph Weizenbaum", "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": "Joseph Weizenbaum", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think that children have a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/i-think-that-children-have-a-power-to-imagine-that-is-almost-magical/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/i-think-that-children-have-a-power-to-imagine-that-is-almost-magical/#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 } } ] } ```