out of the mouths of babes en · X
Etymology
From King James Bible, Psalms 8:2, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength". (Note that mouth is singular in the Biblical verse, and that the usage of this expression differs from the modern proverbial usage.)
Meanings
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From the comments of children, who are honest and innocent, . . . (comes truth or wisdom).
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.
1906, Rudyard Kipling, chapter 10, in Puck of Pook's Hill: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.
1982 May 7, John J. O'Connor, “Art: TV Weekend”, in New York Times, retrieved 08 Sep 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.
2010 Feb. 12, "First Graders' Valentines" (news video), Time (retrieved 8 Sept 2013)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.
1859, Oliver Wendell Holmes, chapter 1, in The Professor at the Breakfast Table:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| out of the mouths of babes and sucklings | alternative | lexicographic |
Translations (7)
gd cha dèan am bodach breug 's a mhac a-staigh (from the comments of children comes truth) · fr la vérité sort de la bouche des enfants (from the comments of children comes truth) · ru уста́ми младе́нца глаго́лет и́стина (from the comments of children comes truth) · pl dzieci są szczere (from the comments of children comes truth) · de Kindermund tut Wahrheit kund (from the comments of children comes truth) · da fra børn og fulde folk skal man høre sandheden (from the comments of children comes truth) · fi lasten suusta (from the comments of children comes truth)