In every man there is a hidden child which is called the urge to create and he prefers as play things and serious things not the miniature ships, recreated in the minutest detail, but the walnutshell with a bird feather as mast and sail and a pebble as the captain. He also wants to be able to participate and to co-create in art, rather than being simply an admiring viewer. For this "child in man" is the immortal creator within him.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the intrinsic creative spirit within every person, likening it to the curiosity and imagination of a child.
Christian Morgenstern's quote reflects the idea that within every adult lies a childlike urge to create and participate in the world around them. This 'hidden child' delights not in perfect replicas, but in simple, imaginative play that signifies deeper artistic expression. It suggests that the essence of creativity is not just formal or technical, but is anchored in playfulness and discovery—qualities that invite individuals to actively engage with art rather than remain passive observers.
In practice
In a speech about fostering creativity in schools, this quote can illustrate the importance of encouraging imaginative play in students.
I can hold a cup of sake on a full moon in Japan, and the reflection of the moon in that little cup can make me feel so enthusiastic about beauty. That one good, magical moment can give me enough to create other things like the teardrop earring or necklace.
Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand.
Poetry is often the art of overhearing yourself say things you didn't know you knew. It is a learned skill to force yourself to articulate your life, your present world or your possibilities for the future.
Color transmits and translates emotion.
The writing life requires courage, patience, persistence, empathy, openness, and the ability to deal with rejection. It requires the willingness to be alone with oneself. To be gentle with oneself. To look at the world without blinders on. To observe and withstand what one sees. To be disciplined, and at the same time, take risks. To be willing to fail - not just once, but again and again, over the course of a lifetime.
It is the writer's privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart.
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