Although you may not realize it, the common phrase "out of the mouths of babes" comes from the Bible. The way it's used in modern English – to indicate humorous or insightful things children say – is something of a stretch. The first such reference comes in the eighth Psalm and refers to the way children (or new believers) praise God. In the New Testament book of Matthew, Jesus refers to this Old Testament verse: "Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have perfected praise.'?"
By 1906, a character in one of Rudyard Kipling's stories declares lightheartedly, "Out of the mouths of babes do we learn." See what Kipling did there? Genius, really. He expanded on the thought, lending it to secular application, without undermining the original point.
In mid-20th century America, radio and television host Art Linkletter, took Kipling's observation to the next level in a regular bit featuring actual children. The segment was called, "Kids Say the Darndest Things."
The set-up was deceptively simple: Linkletter would ask kids an innocent-enough question ("What do you want to be when you grow up?" for instance) and just let them talk. He'd used this device on the radio since 1945, and it translated perfectly to television in the 1950s and 1960s, where it was taped before a live audience. Once when an adorable girl who appeared to be 7 or 8 years old told him she wanted to become a movie star, Linkletter asked her how she envisioned a typical movie star's day. She replied:
"Has a movie star breakfast, then goes in a movie star car and then it has a movie star lunch then goes to a movie star studio then it drives home in a movie star car and then it goes to bed with another movie star."
The audience would howl appreciatively at such observations. Sometimes they were just silly, other times, poignant:
ART LINKLETTER: "Stanley Thomas, what do you think you're going to be when you grow up?
STANLEY: "A bus driver or a pilot."
ART LINKLETTER. "A bus driver or a pilot?"
STANLEY: "Yes."
ART LINKLETTER: "Well, suppose you were a pilot on a big airplane and suddenly all four engines stopped right away. What would you say?"
STANLEY: "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be they name…" (as the audience cracks up).
Why is this on my mind this morning? Because earlier this month, we celebrated "Take Your Daughter or Son to Work Day."
At least I think that's what it's called. The name keeps changing. It began in New York City in the summer of 1992 as "Take Your Daughter to Work Day," the creation of the Ms. Foundation for Women, then run by Marie C. Wilson, an accomplished advocate of women's causes. The next year it went national, and was embraced wholeheartedly by President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodman Clinton, who of course have a daughter of their own. I was covering the White House for the Baltimore Sun in those days and dutifully took my 10-year-old daughter to work where she charmed everyone she met in the Rose Garden.
Ten years later, as young American women began outperforming their male counterparts in the classroom and the size of families kept shrinking (excluding not only boys, but whole families from the event), it was expanded to "Take Your Daughter or Son to Work Day."
I believe, but am not sure, that the exigencies of political correctness in the Biden administration have induced a further refinement and that it is now "Bring a Kid To Work Day." Whatever it's called, it's a fine idea. I had to look no further than my own block in Arlington, Virginia, for confirmation that it still serves a purpose. I just wish that when a hardworking and charming mother of three who lives across the street took her 10-year-old twins to work at the National Institutes of Health that Art Linkletter was still around to record their response.
As they left N.I.H. for home, one of the boys (speaking for both of them) said, "Mom, if we don't make it as professional athletes, we can be scientists as a backup."
And that is our quote of the week.
Carl M. Cannon is the Washington bureau chief for RealClearPolitics. Reach him on Twitter @CarlCannon
