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Definition 2024


out_of_the_mouths_of_babes

out of the mouths of babes

English

Alternative forms

Proverb

out of the mouths of babes

  1. From the comments of children, who are honest and innocent, . . . (comes truth or wisdom).
    • 1859, Oliver Wendell Holmes, The Professor at the Breakfast Table, ch. 1:
      Not only out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, but out of the mouths of fools and cheats, we may often get our truest lessons.
    • 1906, Rudyard Kipling, Puck of Pook's Hill, ch. 10:
      Again Puck translated to Kadmiel in the strange, solemn-sounding language, and at last Kadmiel laughed.
      "Out of the mouths of babes do we learn," said he.
    • 1982 May 7, John J. O'Connor, "Art: TV Weekend," New York Times (retrieved 8 Sept 2013):
      Goldie Hawn . . . insists, at times a bit too gushingly, that out of the mouths of babes will inevitably come everything spontaneous and pure in this world.
    • 2010 Feb. 12, "First Graders' Valentines" (news video), Time (retrieved 8 Sept 2013):
      (CAPTION) Out of the mouths of babes, love is explained. Brooklyn first graders write and read their valentines and describe the meaning of Valentines Day.

Usage notes

  • This expression is sometimes used as a stand-alone phrase, with the implied completion "comes truth or wisdom", and sometimes this expression is actually followed by words more-or-less equivalent to "comes truth or wisdom".

References