"From the standpoint of logic, a child is rather horribly perfect. A baby may be even more perfect, but so alien to an adult that only superficial standards of comparison apply. The thought processes of an infant are completely unimaginable. But babies think, even before birth. In the womb they move and sleep, not entirely through instinct. We are conditioned to react rather peculiarly to the idea that a nearly-viable embryo may think. We are surprised, shocked into laughter, and repelled. Nothing human is alien. But a baby is not human. An embryo is far less human. That, perhaps, was why Emma learned more from the toys than did Scott. He could communicate his thoughts, of course; Emma could not, except in cryptic fragments. The matter of the scrawls, for example — Give a young child pencil and paper, and he will draw something which looks different to him than to an adult. The absurd scribbles have little resemblance to a fire engine, to a baby. Perhaps it is even three-dimensional. Babies think differently and see differently."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Imported from EN Wikiquote
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Lewis_Padgett
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Lewis Padgett
Lewis Padgett was a pseudonym used for the joint efforts of the science fiction authors and spouses Henry Kuttner and Catherine Lucille Moore.
58 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Lewis Padgett →
Related Quotes
"Truth will triumph. It always does. However, I figure truth is a variable, so we're right back where we started from."
"We are dealing with madness. … All children are mad, from an adult viewpoint."
"There's no use trying to describe either Unthahorsten or his surroundings, because, for one thing, a good many millio…"
"There was little time to waste. The Box was beginning to glow and shiver. Unthahorsten stared around wildly, fled int…"
"Having finished his supply of cheese, chocolate, and cookies, and having drained the soda-pop bottle to its dregs, Sc…"
"Maybe it was a music box. Scott shouldn't have felt depressed. The gadgetry would have given Einstein a headache and …"
"The soft, woven helmet was the first thing that caught his eye, but he discarded that without much interest. It was j…"
"The tiny people were deftly building a house. Scott wished it would catch fire, so he could see the people put it out…"
"His find he hid at the back of the closet in his own room upstairs. The crystal cube he slipped into his pocket, whic…"
"Perhaps Paradine and Jane had evinced too much interest in toys. Emma and Scott took to keeping them hidden, playing …"