For some one indeed may say, “What is there in babes that is worthy of emulation? Is it their lack of firmness and intelligence? And how then is it not incredible, to affirm or imagine anything of the kind?“ Christ however does not wish us to be without understanding, but would have us perfectly know everything that is useful and necessary for our salvation. For wisdom even promises that she will give “to them that are simple, craftiness, and to the young the beginning of sense and understanding.” And she is found also in the book of Proverbs like one that raises her voice on high and says, “You, O men, do I beseech, and utter my voice unto the sons of men: understand, O simple ones craftiness, and fools, put a heart within you.” It follows therefore, that the fool has no heart, and is deficient in craftiness; not in that which is blamable, how could that be? but in that which is praiseworthy. But how a man may at once be both simple and crafty, the Savior Himself elsewhere explains to us, saying, “Be crafty as serpents, and simple as doves.” And similarly the blessed Paul also writes, “My brethren, be not children in your minds: but in wickedness be babes, and in your minds grown men.”
It is necessary however to examine, what is the meaning of being babes in wickedness, and how a man becomes so, but in mind a grown man. A babe then, as knowing either very little, or nothing at all, is justly acquitted of the charge of depravity and wickedness: and so it is also our duty to endeavor to be like them in the very same way, by putting entirely away from us habits of wickedness, that we too may be regarded as men who do not even know the pathway which leads unto guile, but who, unconscious of malice and fraud, live in a simple and innocent manner, practicing gentleness, and a priceless humility, and readily forbearing from wrath and spitefulness. For such we affirm are the qualities found in those who are still babes.
Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke 121
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