I suppose if you look back to your early childhood you accept everything people tell you, and that includes a heavy dose of irrationality - you're told about tooth fairies and Father Christmas and things.

The quote "I suppose if you look back to your early childhood you accept everything people tell you, and that includes a heavy dose of irrationality - you're told about tooth fairies and Father Christmas and things" by Richard Dawkins reflects on the way children are taught to believe in certain myths and superstitions without question. Dawkins points out that during early childhood, children are highly receptive and trusting, accepting the stories and beliefs that adults present to them, such as tales of the tooth fairy, Father Christmas, and other mythical figures. These beliefs, while often harmless, are based on irrational ideas that children do not yet have the cognitive ability to challenge.

The origin of this quote is rooted in Dawkins' broader ideas about reason, rationality, and the way human beings develop their understanding of the world. As an advocate for scientific thinking and atheism, Dawkins is highlighting how early exposure to fantastical ideas can shape a child's worldview. He suggests that these irrational beliefs, though innocently passed down through tradition, can lay the foundation for later superstitions or beliefs in things that lack empirical evidence.

Dawkins uses examples like the tooth fairy and Father Christmas to underscore the often whimsical, yet illogical, nature of childhood beliefs. By pointing out that children naturally accept such myths without question, he’s drawing attention to the human tendency to believe in things that are not necessarily grounded in reality. His comment reflects his concern with how imagination and irrationality can be perpetuated by cultural practices and societal norms.

Ultimately, the quote sheds light on how early childhood shapes our beliefs and perceptions, often based on trust in authority figures. Dawkins uses this reflection to make a broader point about the importance of teaching children to think critically and question the irrational beliefs they are introduced to, ultimately encouraging the development of a more scientifically grounded worldview.