--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never really understood who the Magi…" description: "\"I never really understood who the Magi were as a child. What is a Magi? Not a word I would use, but a magpie I could understand.\" — Michael Leunig" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/michael-leunig-2274_child_i-never-really-understood-who-the-magi-w_157771.png" --- # I never really understood who the Magi were as a child… ![“I never really understood who the Magi were as a child. What is a Magi? Not a word I would use, but a magpie I could understand.” quote by Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/michael-leunig-2274_child_i-never-really-understood-who-the-magi-w_157771.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/michael-leunig-2274_child_i-never-really-understood-who-the-magi-w_157771.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/michael-leunig-2274_child_i-never-really-understood-who-the-magi-w_157771.png) > “I never really understood who the Magi were as a child. What is a Magi? Not a word I would use, but a magpie I could understand.” [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author reflects on childhood confusion about the Magi, equating them with a magpie to simplify understanding. **In simple terms:** Childhood misunderstanding of Magi clarified using a bird metaphor. Key Takeaway Use familiar analogies to grasp complex ideas. Themes learning clarity metaphor Mood curious reflective Type educational contemplative When to use this quote - education - storytelling - personal reflection - teaching Key Concepts cultural history symbolism Questions to Reflect On - What symbols help you learn? - When do analogies mislead? A Different Perspective Analogies can oversimplify nuanced concepts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Magi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magi/) ## Related quotes > [“The magi, as you know, were wise men — wonderfully wise men — who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-magi-as-you-know-were-wise-men-wonderfully-wise-men-who-brought/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“What do you do,' said Jean, 'with, ah, "ungifted" children when you have them?' 'Cherish them and raise them, you imbecile. Most of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/what-do-you-do-said-jean-with-ah-ungifted-children-when-you-have-them/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [Matthew loved the magi. He gave their story more square inches of text than he gave the narrative of the birth of Jesus. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/matthew-loved-the-magi-he-gave-their-story-more-square-inches-of-text/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [The Magi are filled with awe by what they see; heaven on earth and earth in heaven; man in God and God in man;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-chrysologus/the-magi-are-filled-with-awe-by-what-they-see-heaven-on-earth-and/) Peter Chrysologus > [“A cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year For a journey, and such a long journey: The ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot-2/a-cold-coming-we-had-of-it-just-the-worst-time-of-the-year-for-a/) [T.S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot-2/) > [The Holy Night We sate among the stalls at Bethlehem; The dumb kine from their fodder turning them, Softened their horned faces To almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/the-holy-night-we-sate-among-the-stalls-at-bethlehem-the-dumb-kine/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [“The Magi" Now as at all times I can see in the mind's eye, In their stiff, painted clothes, the pale unsatisfied ones Appear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/the-magi-now-as-at-all-times-i-can-see-in-the-mind-s-eye-in-their/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [“I am First of the Magi. I am the last authority and I say . . . I am righteous.’ ‘You? No.’ ‘Yes, Ferro.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/i-am-first-of-the-magi-i-am-the-last-authority-and-i-say-i-am/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Magic is that which it is; it is by itself, like the mathematics; for it is the exact and absolute science of Nature and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/magic-is-that-which-it-is-it-is-by-itself-like-the-mathematics-for-it/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [“My friends are my enimies, my magi, my gods, my life...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mykyta-isagulov/my-friends-are-my-enimies-my-magi-my-gods-my-life/) [Mykyta Isagulov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mykyta-isagulov/) > [“The gifts of the Magi. Unconditional Love. Selflessness. Trust. Faith. Forgiveness. Wholeness. Second Chances. Comfort. Joy. Peace. Reassurance. Rejoicing. Generosity. Compassion. Charity. Wonder. Acceptance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/the-gifts-of-the-magi-unconditional-love-selflessness-trust-faith/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“The skies make no special dispensation for Magi, boy, they piss on everyone the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/the-skies-make-no-special-dispensation-for-magi-boy-they-piss-on/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [The old spelling MAGICK has been adopted throughout in order to distinguish the Science of the Magi from all its counterfeits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/the-old-spelling-magick-has-been-adopted-throughout-in-order-to/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [“We returned to our palaces, these Kingdoms, but no longer at ease here in the old dispensation, with an alien people clutching their gods.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot-2/we-returned-to-our-palaces-these-kingdoms-but-no-longer-at-ease-here/) [T.S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot-2/) > [O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/o-all-who-give-and-receive-gifts-such-as-they-are-wisest-everywhere/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) ## More by Michael Leunig > [In my journey as a cartoonist, I seem to have accidentally stumbled into all sorts of traps, damnations and blacklists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/in-my-journey-as-a-cartoonist-i-seem-to-have-accidentally-stumbled/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [Have I got the right to experiment with my child's life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/have-i-got-the-right-to-experiment-with-my-child-s-life/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [There are only two feelings, Love and fear: There are only two languages, Love and fear: There are only two activities, Love and fear:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/there-are-only-two-feelings-love-and-fear-there-are-only-two/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [If European symbols and traditions have grown tired, perfunctory and oppressively banal in Australia, or been drained of spirit and meaning by the dreary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/if-european-symbols-and-traditions-have-grown-tired-perfunctory-and/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [Socialised humanity represses nature and degrades human nature; it takes life and waters it down - probably to control it - diluting existence with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/socialised-humanity-represses-nature-and-degrades-human-nature-it/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [I became a cartoonist because I'd sort of failed at everything else, really. I mean, it was by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/i-became-a-cartoonist-because-i-d-sort-of-failed-at-everything-else/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [God bless this tiny little boat, And me who travels in it. It stays afloat for years and years, And sinks within a minute.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/god-bless-this-tiny-little-boat-and-me-who-travels-in-it-it-stays/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [There can be many reasons to travel, but wandering into the world for no particular reason is a sublime madness, which in all its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/there-can-be-many-reasons-to-travel-but-wandering-into-the-world-for/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [I'm totally deaf in my right ear, yeah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/i-m-totally-deaf-in-my-right-ear-yeah/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [Emotional stability has not been America's gift to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/emotional-stability-has-not-been-america-s-gift-to-the-world/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [Life seems sadly mishandled by humans, as if it's all too much for them - they spend so much time and energy hurting each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/life-seems-sadly-mishandled-by-humans-as-if-it-s-all-too-much-for/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [If you know anything about ducks, you know a baby duck will imprint itself on you. It misses its mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/if-you-know-anything-about-ducks-you-know-a-baby-duck-will-imprint/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [I think melancholy is part of the natural condition, you know. Anyway, I think it's the artist's function to have their melancholy and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/i-think-melancholy-is-part-of-the-natural-condition-you-know-anyway-i/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [At last, after completing year 12, I failed the great final examination, repeated the following year and failed again even more dismally than before.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/at-last-after-completing-year-12-i-failed-the-great-final-examination/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [Avoiding maturity is, for many men, not just a cute hobby, but a life's work - often handsomely rewarded in the infantile popular culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/avoiding-maturity-is-for-many-men-not-just-a-cute-hobby-but-a-life-s/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) [Explore all 175 Michael Leunig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) ## 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. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnetta-b-cole/) > [Bring up your children in the way you think other peoples children should go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/bring-up-your-children-in-the-way-you-think-other-peoples-children/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) Sheila Kamerman > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) [Browse all 10,700 Child quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never really understood who the Magi were as a child. What is a Magi? Not a word I would use, but a magpie I could understand.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Leunig" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/i-never-really-understood-who-the-magi-were-as-a-child-what-is-a-magi/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Child" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/i-never-really-understood-who-the-magi-were-as-a-child-what-is-a-magi/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/michael-leunig-2274_child_i-never-really-understood-who-the-magi-w_157771.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/michael-leunig-2274_child_i-never-really-understood-who-the-magi-w_157771.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/michael-leunig-2274_child_i-never-really-understood-who-the-magi-w_157771.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never really understood who the Magi were as a child. What is a Magi? Not a word I would use, but a magpie…” — Michael Leunig", "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": "Michael Leunig", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never really understood who the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/i-never-really-understood-who-the-magi-were-as-a-child-what-is-a-magi/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/i-never-really-understood-who-the-magi-were-as-a-child-what-is-a-magi/#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 } } ] } ```