Phong's Web

The Little Prince

by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

He comes from a little planet called Asteroid B-612.  The planet is no bigger than a house.  There are 3 little volcanoes on the planet; 2 active, 1 dormant.

He also takes care of a flower on his planet.  He waters her everyday, shields her from the winds, and protects her from any potential danger.  He loves this rose even though she is vain, selfish, and boastful.  Perhaps it's because he knows inside, she loves him too.

Interesting Fact:  The character of the rose was actually inspired by Saint-Exupery's wife.

The little prince feels suffocated by his rose and feels the need to discover himself and be without her for a while.  It is when he is leaving that she finally gives up her facade and lets him know that he is loved.  He leaves, and meets various adults on various planets.  Among those adults are a lonely king, a vain man, a drunkard, a business man, a lamplighter, and a geographer.  Their ways of life are definitely quite bizarre to the little prince.

Finally, he lands on earth, where he meets an sneaky snake, a friendly fox, and finally our author.  The fox ultimately teaches him one of life's most precious lessons of friendship, and the snake ultimately is the one who sends the prince home.  The author and the little prince become good friends; the prince teaching the author, who is an adult, life lessons.

This is such a beautiful story.  It may be disguised as a children's book, but I can guarantee you that it is not that at all.  Out of the many grown-up books/novels that I have read in my lifetime, none have compared to how the story of The Little Prince has affected me.  This story contains so many hidden meanings and metaphors.  However, I won't spoil them for you, it's always more satisfying to feel them for yourselves.  And if any of you do take me up on my suggestion, I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have.  My cousin Marjorie has created a site containing the story online.  Or if you choose not to read it online, I do own 3 copies of the book, although 1 is in French, that I'd be happy to lend.

So far, my very best friend IWA is the only one who has given this some interest.  And the rest of you guys are missing out, haha.

And a very special thanks to Marjorie for reminding me just how lovely this story is!

The Story online:   http://lazypanda5.tripod.com/prince/

Favourite quotes:

Grown-ups like numbers.  When you tell them about a new friend, they never ask questions about what really matters.  They never ask: "What does his voice sound like?" "What games does he like best?" "Does he collect butterflies?"  They ask: "How old is he?" "How many brothers does he have?" "How much does he weigh?" "How much money does his father make?"  Only then do they think they know him. 

~Richard Howard translation.

"One day," you said to me, "I saw the sunset forty-four times!" And a little later you added: "You know--one loves the sunset, when one is so sad . . ." "Were you so sad, then?" I asked, "on the day of the forty-four sunsets?" But the little prince made no reply. 

~the little prince and narrator in conversation ~Katherine Woods translation.

"If some one loves a flower, of which just one single blossom grows in all the millions and millions of stars, it is enough to make him happy just to look at the stars. He can say to himself, 'Somewhere, my flower is there . . .' But if the sheep eats the flower, in one moment all his stars will be darkened . . . And you think that is not important!" 

~ the little prince on the importance of protecting his flower ~ Katherine Woods translation.

It is such a secret place, the land of tears. ~The narrator (author) ~ K.W. translation

And he confided further, "In those days, I didn't understand anything.  I should have judged her according to her actions, not her words.  She perfumed my planet and lit up my life.  I should never have run away!  I ought to have realized the tenderness underlying her silly pretensions.  Flowers are so contradictory!  But I was too young to know how to love her." 

~The little prince talking about his flower ~R.H. translation.

"Where are the people?" The little prince finally resumed the conversation. "It's a little lonely in the desert..."
"It's also lonely with people" said the snake

~The little prince upon meeting the snake ~R.H translation

"Just that," said the fox. "To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world . . ."

"...Words are the source of misunderstandings...

It would have been better to come back at the same hour," said the fox. "If, for example, you come at four o'clock in the afternoon, then at three o'clock I shall begin to be happy. I shall feel happier and happier as the hour advances. At four o'clock, I shall already be worrying and jumping about. I shall show you how happy I am! But if you come at just any time, I shall never know at what hour my heart is to be ready to greet you."

"Men have forgotten this truth," said the fox. "But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose . . ."

~Fox to the little prince~ K.W. translation

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