Children and fools have merry lives.

The saying links a cheerful life with having fewer worries. Children may be sheltered from adult responsibilities, while foolish people may fail to recognize reasons for concern.

It can express amused envy of someone’s carefree manner, but it can also question whether that happiness depends on overlooking consequences.

Use the proverb to comment on someone who appears untroubled by concerns that weigh on others. It may sound playful, but applying it directly to a person can also come across as dismissive.