Antoine de Saint-Exupery

"And they heard the roaring thunder of a third brilliantly lighted express. "Are they pursuing the first travelers?" demanded the little prince. "They are pursuing nothing at all," said the switchman. "They are asleep in there, or if they are not asleep they are yawning. Only the children are flattening their noses against the windowpanes." "Only the children know what they are looking for," said the little prince. "They waste their time over a rag doll and it becomes very important to them; and if anybody takes it away from them, they cry..." "They are lucky," the switchman said."

9 likes

Source: Letter to an American. Essay by Antoine de Saint Exupery, www.416th.com. July 1944.

About the author

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Writer, Aviator

Antoine de Saint-Exupery was a French writer and aviator, best known for his novella 'The Little Prince,' which explores themes of love and human connection.

All quotes by Antoine de Saint-Exupery →

Same author

More quotes by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

See all →
Antoine de Saint-Exupery Writer, Aviator

"Of course I’ll hurt you. Of course you’ll hurt me. Of course we will hurt each other. But this is the very condition of existence. To become spring, means accepting the risk of winter. To become presence, means accepting the risk of absence."

Read quote
Antoine de Saint-Exupery Writer, Aviator

"If you want to build a ship, don't summon people to buy wood, prepare tools, distribute jobs, and organize the work; teach people the yearning for the wide, boundless ocean."

Read quote