TheLittlePrince

AntoinedeSaintExupery
THELITTLEPRINCE
1943

FIRSTCHAPTER
WhenIwassixIsawonce,abeautiful
pictureinabookontheVirginForestnamed"Stories
Lived".Itwasaboaconstrictorswallowingan
fawn.Hereisacopyofthedrawing.
Itwassaidinthebook:"Boaconstrictorsswallowtheir
preywhole,withoutchewing.Thentheycannot
move,andtheysleepthroughthesixmonthsoftheirdigestion."
Ipondereddeeply,then,overtheadventuresofthejungle
and,inturn,Imanaged,withacrayontodraw
myfirstdrawing.MyDrawingNumber1.Itlookedlikethis:
IshowedmymasterpiecetothegrownupsandI
Iaskedthemwhetherthedrawingfrightenedthem.
Theyreplied:"Whywouldheahat
fear?"Mydrawingwasnotahat.Herepresented
aboaconstrictordigestinganelephant.Ithendrew
insidetheboaconstrictor,sothatadultscan
understand.Theyalwaysneedexplanations.My
DrawingNumber2lookedlikethis:
Greatpeoplehaveadvisedmetoignorethe
drawingsofsnakesopenorclosedboas,anddevotemyself
insteadtogeography,history,arithmeticandgrammar.

TheLittlePrince

SoIgaveupattheageofsix,abeautiful
careerasapainter.Iwasdisheartenedbythefailureofmy
drawingnumber1andnumber2ofmydrawing.Bigpeople
neverunderstandanythingbythemselves,anditistiresome
forchildrentobealwaysandalwaysgivethem
explanations.SoIhadtochooseanotherprofession,andIlearnedtofly
aircraft.Iflewaroundtheworld.Andgeography,
That'sright,servedmealot.Icandistinguish
firstglance,ChinaArizona.Thisisveryusefulif
oneislostduringthenight.Ihavehadduringmylife,lotsofcontactswith
lotsofseriouspeople.Ilivedinmanybigpeople.
Ihaveseenveryclosely.Ithasnotmuchimprovedmy
opinion.WhenImetonewhoseemedabitlucid
Iexperienceditonmydrawingnumber1that
Ihavealwayskept.Iwantedtoknowifitwasreally
understanding.Butstillshereplied:"Itisa
hat."SoInevertalktothatpersonaboutboaconstrictors,orforests
virgin,orstars.Istartedtoreach.Ispoketohim
bridge,golf,politics,andneckties.Andgreatperson
wasgladtohavemetsuchasensibleman.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERII
AndIlivedalone,withnoonetoreallytalkto,
toabreakdownintheSaharaDesert,therearesix
years.Somethingwasbrokeninmyengine.AndasI
hadwithmeneitheramechanicnoranypassengers,Isetmyselfto
trytosucceedalone,adifficultrepair.Thiswas
formeamatteroflifeordeath.Ibarely
drinkingwaterforeightdays.
ThefirstnightIwenttosleeponthesand,athousand
milesfromanyhumanhabitation.Iwasmoreisolatedthanashipwrecked
onaraftinthemiddleoftheocean.Soyoucanimagine
myamazement,atsunrise,whenafunnylittlevoice
wokemeup.Shesaid:
Please...drawmeasheep!
Huh!
Drawmeasheep...
IjumpedtomyfeetasifIwasstruckbythe
lightning.Ihaverubbedmyeyes.Iwatched.AndIsawa
littleguyquiteextraordinarythatsawme
seriously.Thisisthebestportraitthat,later,Imanagedto
dowithhim.Butmydrawingiscertainlyverymuchlesscharming
themodel.It'snotmyfault.Iwasdiscouraged
inmycareerasapainterbythegreatpeopleat
theageofsix,andIhadlearnedtodrawanything,exceptboas
closedandopenboa.

TheLittlePrince

Istaredatthissuddenapparitionwithroundeyes
astonishment.DonotforgetthatIwasathousandmilesfrom
anyinhabitedregion.Andyetmylittlemanseemed
neitherlostnordeadtiredorstarvedordiedofthirstor
scaredtodeath.Therewasnothingintheappearanceofachildlostin
middleofthedesert,athousandmilesfromanyinhabitedregion.When
Iwasabletospeak,Isaid:
But...whatareyoudoinghere?
Andthenherepeated,veryslowly,likeathing
veryserious:
Please...drawmeasheep...
Whenamysteryistoooverpowering,onedarenotdisobey.
Asabsurdasitseemedtome,athousandmilesfromany
placesinhabitedandindangerofdeath,Iwentoutofmypocket
asheetofpaperandastylus.ButthenIremembered
especiallywhenIwasstudyinggeography,history,arithmetic
andgrammar,andItoldthelittlechap(alittle
badmood)thatIcouldnotdraw.Heanswered:
Itdoesnotmatter.Drawmeasheep.
AsIhadneverdrawnasheepIdrewfor
him,oneofthetwopicturesIcould.Theboa
closed.AndIwasastoundedtohearthelittlefellowgreet:
No!No!Idonotwantanelephantinsideaboaconstrictor.
Aboaconstrictorisaverydangerous,andanelephantisverycumbersome.
Myhomeisverysmall.Ineedasheep.Draw

TheLittlePrince

measheep.
SoIdrew.
Helookedcarefully,then:
No!Itisalreadyverysick.Makeanotherone.
Idrew:
Myfriendsmiledgentlyandindulgently
Yousee...thisisnotasheep,itisaram.Hehorns...
Ievenredidmydrawing
Butitwasrejected,asthepreviousones:
Thisoneistooold.Iwantasheepthatlivelong.
So,lackofpatience,asIwaseagertostart
takingmyengine,Itossedoffthisdrawing.
AndIthrew
That'sthecase.Thesheepyouaskedforisinside.
ButIwasverysurprisedtoseealightinmyface
youngjudge:
ItisquitehowIwantedit!Doyouthink
faultmuchgrasstosheep?
Why?
BecausewhereIliveeverythingisverysmall...
Itwillsurelysuffice.Igaveyoualittlesheep.
Hebenthisheadoverthedrawing:
Notsosmallit...Hey!Hefellasleep...
AndsoImadetheacquaintanceofthelittleprince.
Thisisthebestportraitthat,later,Imanagedtomakehim

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERIII
Ittookmelongtofigureoutwhereitcamefrom.The
littleprince,whoaskedmemanyquestions,seemed
neverhearmine.Thesearewordsspokenby
chancethat,littlebylittle,everythingwasrevealedtome.Sowhenhesaw
forthefirsttimemyplane(Idonotdrawmy
planeisdrawingfartoocomplicatedforme)itmeasked:
Whatisthatthisthing?
Itisnotathing.Itflies.It'saplane.Thisismyplane.
AndIwasproudtotellhimthatIwasflying.Thenhecried:
How!youfellfromheaven?
Yes,Isaidmodestly.
Ah!Thatisfunny...
Andthelittleprincebrokeintoalovelypealoflaughter,whichirritatedme
much.Iwishthatwetakeseriouslymymisfortunes.
Thenheadded:
So,youalsocomefromthesky!Whatplanetareyoufrom?
MomentIcaughtaglimpseintothemysteryofhispresence,
andIaskedabruptly:
Doyoucomefromanotherplanet?
Buthedidnotanswerme.Heshookhisheadslowly
whilewatchingmyplane:
Itistruethat,onit,youcannotgowellfar...
Andhesankintoareverie,whichlastedalongtime.Then
takingmysheepoutofhispocket,heburiedhimselfinthe

TheLittlePrince

contemplationhistreasure.
YoucanimaginehowIhadbeenintriguedbythis
halfconfidenceon"otherplanets."SoItried
tolearnmore:
Whereareyoufrom,mylittleman?Whereis"home
you"?Wheredoyoutakeyoursheep?
Herepliedafterameditativesilence
Whatissogoodabouttheboxyouhavegivenmeis
thatnight,itwillserveasahome.
Ofcourse.Andifyou'renice,I'llalsogiveyouastring
totieintheday.Andapicket.
Theproposalseemedshockedbythelittleprince
Thefocus?Whatastrangeidea!
Butifyoudonottie,itwillgoanywhere,andhelose...
Andmyfriendbrokeintoanotherpealoflaughter:
Wheredoyouwantittogo!
Anywhere.Straightahead...
Thenthelittleprincesaid,earnestly:
Itdoesnotmatter,it'ssosmall,athome!
Andwithabitofmelancholy,perhaps,headded:
Rightinfrontofyoucannotgofar...

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERIV
Ihadthuslearnedasecondveryimportantthing:
Thisishishomeplanetwasbarelylargerthana
home!
Itdidnotreallysurpriseme.Iknew
thatoutsideoflargeplanetslikeEarth,Jupiter,
Mars,Venus,whichhavebeengivennames,therearehundreds
otherswhoaresometimessosmallthatalot
hardtoseethemthroughatelescope.Whenanastronomerdiscovers
oneofthem,hegiveshernametoanumber.It
callssuchas"theasteroid3251."
Ihaveseriousreasonstobelievethattheplanetfromwhence
thelittleprinceisAsteroidB612.Thisasteroidhasbeensighted
oncethetelescopein1909byaTurkishastronomer.
Hehadagreatdemonstrationofhisdiscovery
anInternationalAstronomicalCongress.Butnobody
waspreviouslythoughtbecauseofhiscostume.Bigpeople
arelikethat.
FortunatelyforthereputationofAsteroidB612,a
Turkishdictatortohispeople,underpainofdeath,
dresstotheEuropean.Theastronomergavehisdemonstration
in1920,inaveryelegantdress.Andthistimeallthe
worldwaswithhim.
IfItoldyouthesedetailsabouttheasteroidB612andifI
youhavegivenhernumberisbecauseofthegreatpeople.

TheLittlePrince

Grownupslikenumbers.Whenyoutalktothem
anewfriend,theyneveraskyouanyquestionsabout
essential.Theyneversaytoyou:"Whatisthesoundofhis
voice?Whatgamesdoeshelovebest?Isitcollects
butterflies?"Theyask:"Howoldishe?
Howhashebrothers?Howheavyishe?Howmuch
hisfather?"Sotheyonlythinktheyknow.Ifyou
tellthegrownups:"Isawabeautifulhouse
pinkbricks,withgeraniumsinthewindowsanddoves
ontheroof..."theyfailtoimaginethishouse.
Itshouldsay:"Isawahouseahundredthousand
francs."Thentheywouldexclaim,"Howpretty!"
Soifyoutellthem:"Theproofthatthelittleprince
existedisthathewascharming,thathelaughed,andhewanteda
sheep.Ifanybodywantsasheep,thatisproofthat
are"theyshrugtheirshouldersandtreatyoulikeachild!
Butifyoutellthem:"TheplanethecamefromisAsteroid
B612,"thentheywouldbeconvinced,andleaveyou
peacefromtheirquestions.Theyarelikethat.Do
notblamethem.Childrenmustbeverylenient
greatpeople.
But,ofcourse,weunderstandthatlife,wedonotcare
manynumbers!Iwouldhavelikedtobeginthisstory
inthemanneroffairytales.Iwouldliketosay:
"Thereoncewasalittleprincewholivedonaplanet

TheLittlePrince

barelybiggerthanhim,andheneededafriend..."For
thosewhounderstandlife,itwouldhavelookedmuchmoretrue.
BecauseIdonotliketoreadmybooklightly.Ifeel
muchgriefinsettingdownthesememories.Therearesixyearssince
Myfriendwentawaywithhissheep.IfItrytodescribehimhere,
Thisisnottoforget.It'ssadtoforgetafriend.
Everyonehashadafriend.AndIcanbecomelike
greatpeoplewhoaremoreinterestedthannumbers.
SowhyhaveIboughtaboxofpaints
andpencils.It'shardtogetbacktodrawing,atmyage,
whenithasneverbeenmoreattemptsthanaboa
closedandthataboaconstrictorattheageofsix!Iwilltry,
ofcourse,makethemostlifelikeportraitspossible.
ButI'mnotquitesureofsuccess.Adrawingwilland
theotherismorelike.I'mwrongalittletooonthe
size.Thelittleprinceistoobig.Thereitistoosmall.
Ialsodoubtsaboutthecolorofhiscostume.SoIfumble
thiswayandthatway,somehow.Imakemistakes,
Incertainmoreimportantdetails.Butitwillrequireme
forgive.Myfriendnevergaveexplanations.Itme
maybelikehimbelieved.ButI,alas,
Idonotknowhowtoseesheepthroughthecrates.Iamperhaps
abitlikethegrownups.Ihadolder.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERV
EverydayIlearnedsomethingabouttheworld,about
startingonthetrip.Itcameslowly,randomly
reflections.Thus,onthethirdday,aboutthecatastrophebaobabs.
Thistimeagainitwasthankstothesheep,forsuddenly
thelittleprinceaskedme,asifseizedbydoubtserious:
It'strue,isnotit,thatsheepeatshrubs?
Yes.Thisistrue.
Ah!I'mhappy.
Idonotunderstandwhyitwassoimportantthat
sheepeatlittlebushes.Butthelittleprinceadded:
Thattheyalsoeatbaobabs?
Ipointedouttothelittleprincethatbaobabsare
notshrubs,butlargetreessuchaschurchesand
thatevenifhetookwithhimaherdofelephants,
theherdwouldnotdefeatasinglebaobab.
Theideaoftheherdofelephantsmadethelittleprincelaugh:
Shouldbeputontopofeachother...
Buthemadeawisecomment:
Thebaobabs,beforegrowing,itstartssmall.
That'sright!Butwhydoyouwantthesheep
eatthelittlebaobabs?
Hereplied:"Well!See!"Asifthiswas
ahighlight.Andittookmeagreatmentaleffort
tounderstandthisproblemmyself.

TheLittlePrince

Andindeed,ontheplanetthelittleprince,therewereas
onallplanets,goodplantsandbad
herbs.Thereforegoodseedsfromgoodplantsand
badweedseeds.Buttheseeds
areinvisible.Theysleepinthedepthsoftheearthto
ittakesafancytooneofthemtowakeup.Thenshe
stretches,andpushesfirsttimidlyintothesunabeautiful
harmlesslittletwig.Ifitisatwig
radishroseoryoucanletitgrowwherevershewants.
Butifitisabadplant,onemustdestroyplant
immediately,assoonasonerecognizes.Buttherewereseeds
terribleontheplanetthelittleprince...theywereseeds
baobabs.Thesoiloftheplanetwasinfested.Abaobabif
onegoesaboutittoolate,youcannevergetridof.
Itspreadsovertheentireplanet.Itboresroots.Andifthe
planetistoosmall,andthebaobabsaretoomany,they
makeitburst.
"It'samatterofdiscipline,Iwastoldlaterthesmall
prince.Whenyouhavefinishedyourowntoiletinthemorning,youhaveto
carefullythetoiletontheplanet.Wemustcompelregularly
towrestfromthebaobabsthatdistinguishesthemfromwith
therosebusheswhichtheyresemblewhentheyare
veryyoung.Itisverytediouswork,butveryeasy."
Andonedayheadvisedmetoapplymyselftomakeabeautiful
drawing,wellbringitintotheheadsofchildrenin

TheLittlePrince

Me."Whentravelingoneday,hetoldme,thattheymayserve.
Thereisnoharminpostponingits
work.But,inthecaseofbaobabs,thatalwaysmeansacatastrophe.
Iknewaplanetinhabitedbyalazyman.It
hadneglectedthreelittlebushes..."
Andonthelittleprince,Idrewthisplanet
there.Iwouldliketotakethetoneofamoralist.Butthe
dangerofthebaobabsissolittleknown,andtherisksto
whomightgetlostonanasteroidsolarge,
thatforonceIambreakingthroughmyreserve.Isaid,"Children
!Watchoutforthebaobabs!"Thisistowarnmy
Friendsofdangertheybrushedlongas
myself,withoutknowingthatIworkedsohardoverthisdrawing.
ThelessonIgavewasworthit.Youwonder
perhaps:Whyistherenotinthisbook,other
drawingsasgrandasthedrawingofthebaobabs?Theanswer
issimple:ItriedbutIcouldnotsucceed.When
IdrewthebaobabsIwasanimatedbyasenseof
urgency.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERVI
Ah!littleprince,Irealizedgraduallyandyourlittlelife
melancholy.Youdidnothavelongtodistractionthat
softsunsets.Ilearnedthatnewdetailonthe
fourthdayinthemorning,whenyoutoldme:
Ilikesunsets.Willseeasunsetsun...
Butwemustwait...
Wait,what?
Waituntilthesungoesdown.
Youwereverysurprisedatfirstair,andthenyoulaughedtotoimme.
Andyoutoldme:
Ialwaysbelieveinme!
Indeed.WhenitisnoonintheUnitedStates,thesun,everything
everyoneknows,issettingoverFrance.Itwouldsufficeto
gotoFranceinoneminute,atsunset.
Unfortunately,Franceistoofaraway.Butonyour
sosmallplanet,allyouneeddoismoveyourchairafewsteps.
Andyouwatchedthetwilightfallingwheneveryoulike...
OnedayIsawthesunsetfortythreetimes!
Andalittlelateryouadded:
Youknow...whenyou'resosadyoulovesunsetssun...
Thedayofthefortythreetimesyouweresososad?
Butthelittleprincemadenoreply.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERVII
Onthefifthday,alwayswiththesheep,thatsecret
thelittleprince'slifewasrevealedtome.Heaskedabruptly,
withoutpreamble,astheresultofaproblemlong
meditatedinsilence
Asheep,ifiteatslittlebushes,heeatsalsoflowers?
Asheepeatseverythingitencounters.
Evenflowersthathavethorns?
Yes.Evenflowersthathavethorns.
Thenthethorns,whatarethey?
Idonotknow.Iwasverybusytryingto
unscrewabolttightenedmyengine.Iwasveryanxious
formyfailurebegantoappeartomeasvery
serious,anddrinkingwaterthatwasexhaustingmefeartheworst.
Spines,whatarethey?
Thelittleprinceneverletgoofaquestiononce
hehadasked.IwasangrywithmyboltandIansweredanything:
Thethorns,itisuseless,itispureevil
fromtheflowers!
Oh!
Butafterapause,helookedatmewithasortofgrudge:
Idonotbelieveyou!Theflowersaresmall.Theyare
naive.Theyreassurethemselvesasbesttheycan.Theybelievethat
terriblewiththeirspines...
Isaidnothing.AtthatmomentIthought:"Ifthis

TheLittlePrince

resistsboltagain,I'llbreakahammer."
Thelittleprincedisturbedmythoughts:
Andyouactuallybelievethattheflowers...
Butno!Butno!Idonotbelieveit!Ianswered
anything.Iamverybusy,seriousstuff!
Helookedatmestunned.
Seriousstuff!
Hesawme,myhammerinmyhandandfingersblack
grease,bendingdownoveranobjectwhichseemedtohimextremelyugly.
Yousoundlikegreatpeople!
Itmademealittleashamed.Butruthless,headded:
Youconfuseeverything...youmixeverything!
Hewasreallyangry.Heshookhishairinthewind
allgold:
Iknowaplanetwherethereisaredfacedgentleman.It
hasneversmelledaflower.Heneverlookedatastar.It
neverlovedanyone.Hehasneverdoneanythingotherthan
additions.Andalldayhesayslikeyou:"Iama
seriousman!Iamaseriousman!"Andthatmakeshimswell
pride.Butthisisnotaman,itisafungus!
Awhat?
Afungus!
Thelittleprincewasnowwhitewithrage.
Therearemillionsofyearsflowersproduce
spines.Therearemillionsofyearsthatsheepeat

TheLittlePrince

stilltheflowers.Anditisnotserioustoseek
whytheytakesomuchtroubletogrow
thornswhichareneverusedforanything?Thisisnot
majorwarsheepandtheflowers?Thisisnomore
seriousandimportantadditionsofastoutgentleman
red?AndifIknowmyself,asingleflowerintheworld,
existsnowherebutonmyplanet,andalittlesheep
canwipeoutallofasuddenlikethat,onemorning,without
realizewhathe'sdoingisnotimportantthat!
Heblushed,thencontinued:
Ifsomeonelovesaflowerofwhichjustonecopy
inmillionsandmillionsofstars,that'senoughfor
heishappywhenhelooks.Hesaid:"Myfloweris
somewhere...'Butifthesheepeatstheflower,itisforhim
asif,suddenly,allthestarswentout!Anditisnotimportant!
Hecouldnotsayanythingmore.Hesuddenlyburstintotears.
Nighthadfallen.Idroppedmytools.Ilaughed
myhammer,mybolt,orthirstand
death.Therewasastar,aplanet,myplanet,theEarth,
alittleprincetobecomforted!Itookhiminmyarms.Irockedhim.
Isaid:"Theflowerthatyouloveisnotindanger...Itoldhim
drawyouamuzzleforyoursheep...I'lldrawyoua
armorforyourflower...I..."Ididnotknowwhattosay.I
feltveryawkward.Ididnotknowhowtoreach,where
join...It'ssomysterious,thelandoftears.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERVIII
Isoonlearnedtoknowthisflower.Therewas
alwaysbeenontheplanetthelittleprince,flowersvery
simple,decoratedwithasinglerowofpetals,whichareheld
pointsite,anddidnotbotheranyone.Theyappeared
onemorninginthegrass,andthentheydiedoutintheevening.
Butthisonehadsproutedoneday,fromaseedblownfromno
knowswhere,andthelittleprincehadwatchedverycloselyoverthissmallsprout
whichwasnotliketheothertwigs.Itcould
beanewkindofbaobab.Theshrubsoonstopped
growing,andbegantoprepareaflower.Thelittleprince,who
attendedtheinstallationofahugebud,feltthat
comeofamiraculousapparition,buttheflowernoend
notpreparetobebeautiful,awayfromthegreenroom.
Shechosethecolorscarefully.Shedressedslowly,
Sheadjustedherpetalsonebyone.Shedidnotwanttoleaveany
wrinkledlikepoppies.Shewouldappearthat
inthefullradianceofherbeauty.Eh!yes.Shewasvery
coquette!Hermysteriousadornmentlastedfordaysand
days.Thenonemorning,exactlyatSunrise
thesun,shehadbeen.
Andshe,whohadworkedwithsuchprecision,yawned:
Ah!Iwakeupjust...Ibegyourpardon...
I'mstillalldisheveled...
Thelittleprincecouldnotrestrainhisadmiration:

TheLittlePrince

Howbeautifulyouare!
Isnottheflowerrepliedsoftly.AndIwasborn
togetherwiththesun...
Thelittleprincecouldguessthatshewasnottoomodest
butitwassomoving!
It'stime,Ibelieve,breakfast,shehadsoon
added,wouldyoubesokindtothinkofme...
Andthelittleprince,completelyabashed,wenttolookforasprinkling
freshwater,hadservedtheflower.
Sohadshesoontormentedbyhisvanityalittle
suspicious.Oneday,forexample,speakingofherfourthorns,
shesaidtothelittleprince:
Theycancome,tigers,withtheirclaws!
Therearenotigersonmyplanet,hadobjectedsmall
prince,andthenthetigersdonoteatgrass.
I'mnotaweed,gentlyansweredtheflower.
Forgiveme...
I'mafraidoftigers,butIhatecurrent
air.Youdonothaveascreen?
"Horrordrafts...itisnotlikelyto
plant,hadnoticedthelittleprince.Thisfloweriscomplicated..."
Atnightyouputmeunderglass.Itisverycoldin
you.Itisincorrectlyinstalled.WhereIcomefrom...
Butitwasinterrupted.Itcameintheform
seed.Shecouldnotknowanythingabouttheotherworlds.

TheLittlePrince

Humiliatedathavingbeencaughtonalie
alsonaive,shecoughedtwoorthreetimestoputthelittle
princeinthewrong:
Thescreen...?
Iwasgoingtogetbutyoutellme!
Thensheforcedhercoughstillinflictremorse.
Sothelittleprince,despitethegoodwillofits
love,hadsooncometodoubther.Hehadtakenseriouslywords
unimportant,andbecameveryunhappy.
"Ishouldnotlistentohim,hetoldmeonedayit
shouldneverlistentotheflowers.Wemustlookatthemandbreathe.
Mineperfumedallmyplanet,butIdidnotknowme
rejoice.Thistaleofclaws,whichhadsoannoyedme,would
hadsoftenedme..."
Heeventoldme:
"Icouldnothavebeenabletounderstandanything!Ishouldbejudgedon
deedsandnotbywords.Shesmelledmeandlitme.I
shouldnothaverunaway!Ishouldhaveguessedhistenderness
behindherpoorlittlestratagems.Flowersaresoinconsistent!
ButIwastooyoungtoknowlove."

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERIX
Ithinkhetookadvantageforhisescape,migration
ofwildbirds.Onthemorningofhisdepartureheputhisplanetin
order.Hecarefullycleanedouthisactivevolcanoes.Hehadtwoactivevolcanoes.Anditwasvery
convenientfor
heatthebreakfastinthemorning.Healsohada
extinctvolcano.But,ashesaid,"Youneverknow!"It
thencleanedouttheextinctvolcano.Iftheyarewellcleaned,
volcanoesburnslowlyandsteadily,withoutanyeruptions.
Volcaniceruptionsarelikefires.
Obviouslyourearthwearemuch
toosmalltocleanoutourvolcanoes.Thatiswhytheywe
causealotoftrouble.
Thelittleprincealsopulledup,withabitofmelancholy,
thelastshootsofthebaobabs.Hebelievednevertohave
return.Butallthesefamiliartasksseemedhim,morning,
extremelysoft.Andwhenhewateredthelasttime
flower,andpreparedtotakeshelterundertheglobe,hediscovered
wanttocry.
Farewell,hesaidtotheflower.
Butshedidnotanswerhim.
Goodbye,'herepeated.
Theflowercoughed.Butitwasnotbecauseofhercold.
Iwasstupid,'shesaidfinally.Ibegyourpardon.
Strivetobehappy.

TheLittlePrince

Hewassurprisedbytheabsenceofreproaches.Hestoodthereall
baffledtheglobeintheair.Hedidnotunderstandthatsoftnesscalm.
Yes,Iloveyou,saidtheflower.Youdidnotknowanything,by
myfault.Itdoesnotmatter.Butyouhavebeensostupid
thanme.Trytobehappy...Lettheglassglobe.I
donotwantit.
Butthewind...
I'mnotsohoarsethat...Thecoolnightair
willdomegood.Iamaflower.
Butthebeasts...
ItisnecessarythatIsupporttwoorthreecaterpillarsifI
wanttoknowthebutterflies.Itseemsthatit'ssobeautiful.
Otherwisewhowillvisitme?Youwillbefaraway.Asfor
largeanimals,Ifearnothing.Ihavemyclaws.
Andnaivelyshowedherfourthorns.Thensheadded:
Donotlingerlikethis,it'sannoying.Youhavedecidedto
from.Goaway.
Becauseshedidnotwanthimtoseehercry.Itwasaflower
soproud...

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERX
Hewasintheneighborhoodoftheasteroids325,326,327,
328,329and330.Hebeganbyvisitingthem
occupationandtolearn.
Thefirstwasinhabitedbyaking.Thekingsat,dressed
purpleandermine,onaverysimpleandyetthronemajestic.
Ah!Thisisasubject,saidthekingwhenhesawthelittleprince.
Andthelittleprinceaskedhimself:
"Howcanherecognizemewhenhehadmeagain
everseen!"
Hedidnotknowthat,forkings,theworldissimplified.
Allmenaresubjects.
ComeherethatImayseeyoubetter,'saidtheking,whowas
allproudtobeakingoversomebody.
Thelittleprincelookedeverywheretosit,buttheplanet
wasverycrowdedbythebeautifulcoat
ermine.Sohestood,andashewastired,heyawned.
Itiscontrarytoetiquettetoyawninthepresenceofa
Kingsaidthemonarch.I'llforbidit.
Icannothelpmyself,'repliedthelittleprince
allconfused.IhadalongjourneyandIhavenotslept...
Thensaidtheking,Iorderyoutoyawn.Ihavenotseenanyone
yawnyears.TheYawns,tome
curiosities.Comeon!yawnedagain.That'sanorder.
Itfrightensme...Icannot...saidthelittleprinceallblushing.

TheLittlePrince

Hmm!Hum!repliedtheking.SoI...Iorderyousometimes
toyawnandsometimes...
Hesputteredalittle,andseemedvexed.
Forthekingfundamentallyinsisteduponwasthathisauthorityshouldbe
respected.Hetoleratednodisobedience.Itwasamonarch
absolute.But,asitwasverygood,hegave
reasonableorders.
"IfIordered,hesaidcurrently,ifIordereda
generaltochangehimselfintoaseabird,andifthegeneral
obeyednot,itwouldnotbethefaultofthegeneral.Thatwouldbemyfault."
CanIsitdown?timidlyinquiredthelittleprince.
Icommandyoutosit,repliedtheking,whobrought
majesticallyafoldofhiserminemantle.
Butthelittleprincewaswondering.Theplanetwastiny.
Whatcouldthiskingreallyrule?
Sire,hesaid...I'msorrytoquestionyou...
Iorderyoutoaskme,hastenedtotelltheking.
Sir...onwhatdoyourule?
Inall,saidtheking,withmagnificentsimplicity.
Onall?
Thekingmadeagesture,whichhisplanet,theotherplanets
andstars.
Overallthat?saidthelittleprince.
Overallthat...thekinganswered.
Notonlybecauseitwasanabsolutemonarch,butitwas

TheLittlePrince

auniversalmonarch.
Andthestarsobeyyou?
Ofcourse,saidtheking.Theyobeyinstantly.Iwillnottolerate
notinsubordination.
Suchpowermarveledthelittleprince.Ifhehadheld
himself,hecouldattend,notfortyfour,but
seventytwo,orevenahundredoreventwohundredsunsets
suninthesameday,withouteverhavingtotake
hischair!Andashefeltabitsadbecauseofthememory
itssmallabandonedplanet,heventuredtoask
thekingafavor:
Iwanttoseeasunset...Domeafavor...
Orderthesuntoset...
IfIorderedageneraltoflyfromoneflowertoanother
themannerofabutterfly,atragedyorwrite,ortochange
intoaseabird,andifthegeneraldidnotcarryouttheorderreceived,
that,himorme,wouldbeinthewrong?
Thatwouldbeyou,saidthelittleprincefirmly.
Right.Wemustdemandthateachonecangive
repliedtheking.Theauthorityrestsfirstontheright.Ifyou
orderedyourpeopletogointothesea,itwillmaketherevolution.
Ihavetherighttorequireobediencebecausemyordersare
reasonable.
Thenmysunset?thelittleprinceremindedthat
neverforgotaquestiononcehehadaskedit.

TheLittlePrince

Yoursunsetinthebush.Icommandit.But
Iwillwaitinmyscienceofgovernment,thattheconditions
arefavorable.
Whenitisthere?inquiredthelittleprince.
Hem!humrepliedtheking,whoconsulteda
Wholesalecalendar,humhumThatwillbeabout...about...itwillbetonight
totwentyminutestoeightAndyouwillseehowwellIamobeyed.
Thelittleprinceyawned.Heregrettedhissunset
missed.Andthenhewasalreadyalittlebored:
Ihavenothingmoretodohere,hetoldtheking.I'mgoingback!
Donotgo,'saidtheking,whowassoproudofhavingasubject.
Donotgo,I'llmakeyouaMinister!
Ministerofwhat?
From...ofJustice!
Butthereisnobodyheretojudge!
Wedonotknow,'saidtheking.Ididnoteventurn
mykingdom.Iamveryold,Idonothaveroomfora
carriage,andittiresmetowalk.
Oh!ButI'veseensaidthelittleprince,turning
tofurthertakealookattheothersideoftheplanet.It
noonethereeither...
Youjudgeyourselfso,repliedtheking.Thisisthe
moredifficult.Itismuchmoredifficulttojudgeoneselfthan
tojudgeothers.Ifyousucceedinjudgingyourself,it'sbecauseyou'rea
trulywise.

TheLittlePrince

Isaidthelittleprince,Icanjudgemyself
anywhere.Idonotneedtolivehere.
Hem!Hem!saidtheking,Ithinkthatonmyplanetthere
thereissomewhereanoldrat.Ihearthenight.Youcan
judgethisoldrat.Youwillcondemnhimtodeathtime
time.Thushislifewilldependonyourjustice.Butyouwillpardon
eachtimeforthesave.Thereisonlyone.
I,saidthelittleprince,Idonotliketocondemn
death,andIthinkI'mgoing.
No,saidtheking.
Butthelittleprince,havingnowcompletedhispreparations,wouldnot
grievetheoldmonarch
IfYourMajestywishestobepromptlyobeyed,she
couldgivemeareasonableorder.Itcould
Orderme,forexample,theendofoneminute.Itme
seemsthatconditionsarefavorable...
Thekingmadenoanswer,thelittleprincehesitatedatfirst,
then,withasigh,hetookhisleave.
IgiveyoumyAmbassador,thenhastenedtoshouttheking.
Hehadagreatairofauthority.
"Grownupsareverystrange,"saidthelittle
Princeitself,duringhistrip.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERXI
Thesecondplanetwasinhabitedbyaconceited
Ah!Ah!Thisisthevisitfromanadmirer!exclaimedfromafar
theconceitedwhenhesawthelittleprince.
For,toconceitedmen,allothermenareadmirers.
Hello,saidthelittleprince.Youhaveafunnyhat.
Thisistoacknowledge,theconceitedmanreplied.Thisistoacknowledge
whenpeopleacclaimme.Unfortunatelyitnevergoes
personhere.
Really?saidthelittleprince,whodidnotunderstand.
Clapyourhands,oneagainsttheother,soadvisedthe
conceited.
Thelittleprinceclappedhishandsagainsteachother.Thevain
modestsalutebyraisinghishat.
"That'smorefunthanavisittotheking,"saidheinhimself
thelittleprince.Andhebegantoclaphishands
againsteachother.Theconceitedmanagainsalutebyraisinghishat.
Afterfiveminutesofthisexercisethelittleprincegrewtiredof
themonotonyofthegame:
Andforthehatfalls,heasked,whatdoesitdo?
Buttheconceitedmandidnothear.Conceited
neverhearanythingbutpraise.
Doyoureallyadmiremeverymuch?demandat
ittothelittleprince.
Whatdoesitmeantosee?

TheLittlePrince

AdmiremeanthatI'mthemanmost
beautiful,bestdressed,therichestandmostintelligentofthe
planet.
Butyou'reonlyonyourplanet!
Givemethepleasure.Admiremeanyway!
Iadmireyou,'saidthelittleprince,shruggingalittle
shoulders,buthowcanthismuchinteresttoyou?
Andthelittleprincewentaway.
"Grownupsarecertainlyveryodd"
hesaidsimplyhimselfduringhisjourney.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERXII
Thenextplanetwasinhabitedbyatippler.Thevisit
wasveryshort,butitplungedthelittleprinceintodeepmelancholy:
Whatareyoudoinghere?hesaidtothetippler,whomhefoundsettledin
silencebeforeacollectionofemptybottlesandacollection
fullbottles.
Idrink,repliedthetippler,withalugubriousair.
Whydoyoudrink?askedthelittleprince.
Toforget,repliedthetippler.
Forgetwhat?inquiredthelittleprince,whoalreadycomplained.
ForgetthatIamashamed,confesseddrinkerloweringhead.
Ashamedofwhat?inquiredthelittleprince,whowantedrescue.
Ashamedofdrinking!completedthedrinkerwhopermanentlylocked
insilence.
Andthelittleprincewentaway,puzzled.
"Grownupsarecertainlyvery,veryodd
"Hethoughttohimselfduringthetrip.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERXIII
Thefourthplanetbelongedtoabusinessman.This
manwassobusyhedidnotevenlookupatthefinish
thelittleprince.
Hello,'saidone.Yourcigaretteisextinguished.
Threeandtwomakefive.Fiveand12September.Twelveandthree
fifteen.Hello.Fifteenand22September.Twentytwoandsix
twentyeight.Notimetorelight.Twentysixandthirtyfive
anda.Phew!Itisthereforefivehundredandonemillionsixhundredtwentytwo
thousandsevenhundredthirtyone.
Fivehundredmillionwhat?
Huh?Areyoustillthere?Fivehundredandonemillion...Ido
knowmore...Ihavesomuchwork!I'mserious,Ido
notamusemyselfwithbalderdash!Twoand5September...
Fivehundredandonemillionwhat?repeatedthelittleprince
Neverinhislifehadletgoofaquestiononcehe
hadasked.
Thebusinessmanraisedhishead:
ForfiftyfouryearsIhavelivedthisplanteci,
Ihavebeendisturbedonlythreetimes.Thefirsttimewasthere
twentytwoyears,whensomegiddygoosefellfromgoodnessknows
where.Hemadethemostfrightfulnoise,andImadefourmistakes
inaddition.Thesecondtimeit'sbeenthereelevenyears,
byanattackofrheumatism.Ilackofexercise.Idonothave
timetowander.I'mserious,me.Thethirdtimethe...

TheLittlePrince

here!Isaidfivehundredandonemillion...
Millionsofwhat?
ThebusinessmanrealizedhewasnohopeofPeace:
Millionsofthoselittlethingsthatwesometimessee
inthesky.
Flies?
No,thelittlethingsthatshine.
Bees?
Butno.Littlethingsthatmakegoldthedaydream
lazy.ButI'mserious,me!Idonothavetimetodaydream.
Ah!thestars?
That'sright.Stars.
Andwhatareyoudoingfivehundredmillionsofstars?
Five101.622millionsevenhundred
thirtyone.I'mserious,I'maccurate.
Andthesestarsareyoudoing?
WhatdoIdo?
Yes.
Nothing.Iownthem.
Youownthestars?
Yes.
ButI'veseenakingwho...
TheKingsdonotown.They"reign"on.Itisverydifferent.
Andwhatgooddoesitdoyoutoownthestars?
Ithelpsmetoberich.

TheLittlePrince

Andwhatgooddoesitdoyoutoberich?
Tobuymorestars,ifanyarediscovered.
"Thatonesaystohimselfthelittleprince,hereasonsa
likemydrunk."
Howeverheaskedfurtherquestions:
Howcanwehavethestars?
Whoarethey?retorted,grumpy,thebusinessman.
Idonotknow.Inperson.
Sotheyaretome,becauseIthoughttherefirst.
Enough?
Ofcourse.Whenyoufindadiamondthatbelongstonobody,
itisyours.Whenyoudiscoveranislandthatbelongstonobody,
itisyours.Whenyougetanideafirst,youtakeoutapatent:
Itisyours.AndIownthestars,becausenobody
personbeforemeeverthoughtofowningthem.
That'strue,'saidthelittleprince.Andwhatdoyoudo?
Iadminister.IcountandIrecount,saidthebusinessman.
Itisdifficult.ButI'maseriousman!
Thelittleprincewasstillnotsatisfied.
IfIownedasilkscarf,Icanputitaround
myneckandwin.IfIownedaflower,Ican
pluckthatflowerandtakeit.ButyoucannotpickStars!
No,butIcanputtheminthebank.
Whatdoesthatmean?
ThatmeansIwriteonapieceofpaperthenumberof

TheLittlePrince

mystars.AndthenIputinthiskeypaperinadrawer.
Andthat'sit?
Enough!
"It'sfun,thoughtthelittleprince.It'sratherpoetic.
Butitisnotveryserious."
Thelittleprincehadseriousthingsveryideas
differentideasofgreatpeople.
Me,hesaidagain,IhaveaflowerIsprayedall
day.Iownthreevolcanoes,whichIcleanouteveryweek.
ForIalsocleanouttheonethatisturnedoff.Youneverknow.
Itisusefultomyvolcanoes,anditisusefultomyflower,thatI
possesses.Butyou'renotusetothestars...
Thebusinessmanopenedhismouthbutfoundnothingtoanswer,
andthelittleprincewentaway.
"Grownupsarecertainlyaltogetherextraordinary
"Hesaidtohimselfsimplybyitselfduringthetravel.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERXIV
Thefifthplanetwasverystrange.Itwasthesmallest
all.Therewasjustenoughroomforastreetlamp
andalamplighter.Thelittleprincewasable
nottoexplainwhatcouldbeusedsomewherein
theskyonaplanetwithoutahome,orpopulation,alamppost
andalamplighter.Buthesaidtohimself:
"Maybethismanisabsurd.Howeverit
issoabsurdastheking,theconceitedman,thebusinessman
andthedrinker.Atleasthisworkhemakessense.
Whenhelightshisstreetlamp,itisasifhebrought
anotherstar,oraflower.Whenheputsouthislamp,
hesendstheflowerorstar.Itisabeautifuloccupation.
Itistrulyusefulsinceitisbeautiful."
WhenhearrivedontheplanetherespectfullysalutedLighter:
Hello.Whyhaveyoujustputoutyourlamp?
Thisisthepoint,repliedthelamplighter.Hello.
Whatisthepoint?
Itisputoutmylamp.Goodevening.
Andherekindled.
Butwhydoyoucomeonagain?
Thisisthepoint,repliedthelamplighter.
Idonotunderstand,'saidthelittleprince.
Thereisnothingtounderstand,saidthelamplighter.Thesetpoint
thisisthepoint.Hello.

TheLittlePrince

Andheputouthislamp.
Thenhemoppedhisbrowwithahandkerchiefred.
Ifollowaterribleprofession.Itwasreasonableonce.
Iturnedoffthemorningandlitatnight.Ihadtherestoftheday
torest,andtherestofthenighttosleep...
Andsincethattime,thesethaschanged?
Thesethasnotchanged,saidthelamplighter.Thisisindeedthe
drama!Theworldeachyearhasturnedincreasingly
fast,andtheordershavenotbeenchanged!
So?saidthelittleprince.
Sonowitmakesonerevolutionperminute,Ihave
plusonesecondofrest.IturnandIturnonceperminute!
That'sfunny!Thedayswithyoulastaminute!
Thisisnotfunnyatall,saidthelamplighter.It'sbeena
monthaswetalktogether.
Amonth?
Yes.Thirtyminutes.Thirtydays!Goodevening.
Andhelightedhislampagain.
Thelittleprincelookedathimandhelovedthislamplighterwhowas
sofaithfultohisorders.Herememberedthesunsets
thathehadgonetoseek,drawinghischair.It
wantedtohelphisfriend:
Youknow...Iknowawayyoucanrestwhenyou
wilt...
Ialwayswantto,saidthelamplighter.

TheLittlePrince

Becauseitcanbebothfaithfulandlazy.
Thelittleprincewenton:
Yourplanetissosmallthatyoudowiththetower
threestrides.Youonlyhavetowalkslowlyenough
alwaysstayinthesun.Whenyouwanttorest,youwillgo...
andthelastdayaslongasyouwant.
Itdoesnotmovememuch,saidthelamplighter.What
Iloveinlifeissleep.
Itisnotlikely,saidthelittleprince.
Itisnotlikely,saidthelamplighter.Hello.
Andheputouthislamp.
"Thisone,saidthelittleprince,ashecontinued
fartheronhisjourney,itwouldbescornedbyalltheothers,
bytheking,bytheconceitedman,bythetippler,bythebusinessman.
Howeverthisistheonlyonewhodoesnotseemtomeridiculous.Thatis,
perhapsbecausetheyfocusonsomethingotherthanoneself."
Hebreathedasighofregret,andsaidagain:
"ThisoneistheonlyoneIcouldhavemademyfriend.Buthis
planetisreallytoosmall.Thereisnoroomfortwo..."
Whatthelittleprincedidnotdareconfesswasthatheregretted
thisblessedplanetbecause,aboveall,onethousandfourhundred
fortysunsetseverytwentyfourhours!

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERXV
ThesixthplanetwastentimeslargerthanEarth.It
wasinhabitedbyanoldgentlemanwhowrotevoluminous
books.
Hey!Hereisanexplorer!ishecriedwhenhesaw
thelittleprince.
Thelittleprincesatdownonthetableandpantedalittle.Hehad
alreadytraveledsomuch!
Whereareyoufrom?saidtheoldgentleman.
Whatisthatbigbook?saidthelittleprince.Whatdoyouhere?
Iamageographer,saidtheoldgentleman.
Whatisageographer?
Thisisascholarwhoknowsthelocationoftheseas,
rivers,towns,mountainsanddeserts.
That'sveryinteresting,'saidthelittleprince.Itisfinally
arealjob!Andhecastalookaroundhimatthe
planetofthegeographer.Hehadneverseenanotherplanet
asmajestic.
Itisverybeautiful,yourplanet.Isthattherehasoceans?
Icannotknow,saidthegeographer.
Ah!(Thelittleprincewasdisappointed.)Andthemountains?
Icannotknow,saidthegeographer.
Andcitiesandrivers,anddeserts?
Icannotknoweither,saidthegeographer.
Butyouareageographer!

TheLittlePrince

That'sright,saidthegeographer,butIamnotanexplorer.
Iabsolutelylackofexplorers.Itisnotthegeographer
thatwillmakeonbehalfofcities,rivers,mountains,
seas,oceansanddeserts.Thegeographer
tooimportanttogoloafing.Hedoesnotleavehisoffice.Butthere
receivestheexplorers.Heasked,andhetakesnoteoftheir
memories.Andiftherecollectionsofanyoneofthemseemedtohim
interesting,thegeographertoinvestigatemorality
theexplorer.
Whyisthat?
Becauseanexplorerwhotoldlieswouldresultin
disastersingeographybooks.Andanexplorer
whodranktoomuch.
Whyisthat?saidthelittleprince.
Becausedrunksseedouble.Thenthegeographer
notedowntwomountainswherethereisonlyone.
Iknowsomeonesaidthelittleprince,thatwouldbebadexplorer.
Itispossible.Sowhenthecharacteroftheexplorer
looksgood,weconductedasurveyofitsdiscovery.
We'llsee?
No.It'stoocomplicated.Butonerequirestheexplorer
furnishevidence.If,forexample,thediscovery
alargemountain,onerequiresthatitrelates
largestones.
Thegeographerwassuddenlyroused.

TheLittlePrince

Butyouyoucomefromfaraway!You'rebrowser!You'regoing
describeyourplanet!
Andgeographer,havingopeneditsregister,sharpenedhis
pencil.Wefirstnotetotheaccountsofexplorerspencil.
Wearewaitingfortheinktonotethattheexplorerhasfurnishedevidence.
So?saidthegeographer.
Oh!home,saidthelittleprince,isnotveryinteresting,
itisverysmall.Ihavethreevolcanoes.Twoactivevolcanoes,
andanextinctvolcano.Butyouneverknow.
Youneverknow,saidthegeographer.
Ialsohaveaflower.
Wedonotrecordflowers,saidthegeographer.
Whyisthat?thisistheprettiest!
Becauseflowersareephemeral.
Whatmeans"ephemeral"?
Geographies,saidthegeographer,arethebooks
preciousofallbooks.Theynevergooutofstyle.Thereis
veryrarelythatamountainchangesitsposition.Itisveryrarethat
oceanemptiesitswater.Wewriteofeternalthings.
Butextinctvolcanoesmaywakeup,interrupted
thelittleprince.Whatdoes"ephemeral"?
Whethervolcanoesareextinctoralive,itcomes
thesameforus,saidthegeographer.What
countsforusisthemountain.Itdoesnotchange.
Butwhatdoesitmean"ephemeral"?repeatedthelittle

TheLittlePrince

prince,whoneverinhislifehadgiventoaquestion,once
hehadasked.
Itmeans"whoisindangerofspeedydisappearance."
Myflowerindangerofspeedydisappearance?
Ofcourse.
Myflowerisephemeral,saidthelittleprince,andshedidthat
fourthornstodefendherselfagainsttheworld!AndIleft
aloneathome!
Thatwashisfirstmomentofregret.Buthewentcourage
Whatdoyouadvisemetovisitnow?heasked.
PlanetEarth,repliedthegeographer.Ithasa
goodreputation...
Andthelittleprincewentaway,thinkingofhisflower.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERXVI
TheseventhplanetwastheEarthso.
TheEarthisnotaplanet!Ithas
hundredandelevenkings(notforgetting,ofcourse,theNegrokings),seven
thousandgeographers,ninehundredthousandbusinessmen,sevenmillionand
halfdrunken,threehundredelevenmillionvain,thatistosay
abouttwogrownups.
TogiveyouanideaofthesizeoftheEarthI
willtellyouthatbeforetheinventionofelectricityitwasnecessarytomaintain,
onallsixcontinents,averitablearmyof
fourhundredsixtytwothousandfivehundredelevenlightersstreetlights.
Seenfromadistanceitwasasplendideffect.Movements
thisarmywouldberegulatedlikethoseofaballet
opera.Firstcametheturnoflamplighters
NewZealandandAustralia.Thenthey,havinglit
theirlanternsweregoingtosleep.Thencametheirturn
inthedancelamplightersofChinaandSiberia.
Canalsobewavedinthebackground.Thencame
aroundthelamplightersRussiaandIndia.
ThenthoseofAfricaandEurope.ThenthoseofAmerica
South.ThenthoseofNorthAmerica.Andtheyneverwill
mistakenintheirorderofappearance.Itwasgreat.
OnlythechargeofthesinglelampattheNorthPole,and
BrotherofthesinglelampattheSouthPole,ledlives
idlenessandindifference:theyworkedtwiceayear.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERXVII
Whenonewantstobewitty,sometimesalieis
little.Ihavenotbeenveryhonestwithyouaboutthelighters
streetlights.Imightgiveafalseideaofourplanet
thosewhodonotknow.Menoccupy
verylittlespaceonearth.Ifthetwobillioninhabitants
whoinhabittheearthandstoodalittletight,as
forameeting,theycouldeasilybeputinapublicplace
twentymileslongandtwentymileswide.Could
pileofhumanityonthesmallestislandinthePacific.
Greatpeople,ofcourse,donotbelieveyou.
Theyimaginethattheymuchspace.Theyfancythemselvesasimportant
asbaobabs.Youshouldadvisethemto
calculation.Theylovenumbersthatwillpleasethem.Butdonotlose
notyourtimeonthisextratask.Itisuseless.Youtrustinme.
ThelittleprincearrivedontheEarth,wassosurprisedto
seenobody.Hehadfearofhavingthewrongplanet,
whenamoonringcolorflashedacrossthesand.
Goodnight,saidthelittleprincecourteously.
Goodnight,saidthesnake.
OnwhatplanethaveIfallen?askedthelittleprince.
OnEarth,Africa,repliedthesnake.
Ah...SothereisnooneonEarth?
Hereisthedesert.Therearepeopleinthedesert.The
Earthislarge,saidthesnake.

TheLittlePrince

Thelittleprincesatdownonastoneandlookedupatthesky:
Iwonder,hesaid,ifthestarsarelitto
thateveryonecanonedayfindhis.Lookatmyplanet.
Itisrightaboveus...Butasitisfar!
Sheisbeautiful,saidthesnake.Whatareyoudoinghere?
Ihavetroublewithaflower,saidthelittleprince.
Ah!saidthesnake.
Andtheyweresilent.
Wherearethemen?finallysaidthelittleprince.Itis
alittlelonelyinthedesert...
Itisalsolonelyamongmen,saidthesnake.
Thelittleprincelookedlong:
Youareafunnyanimal,hesaidfinally,asthinasafinger...
ButIammorepowerfulthanthefingerofaking,saidthesnake.
Thelittleprincesmiled:
You'renotverypowerful...youdonotevenhavealeg...
youcannoteventravel...
Icancarryyoufartherthananyship,saidthesnake.
Itwrappedaroundthelittleprince'sankle,likea
goldenbracelet
WhomeverItouch,Isendbacktotheearthfromwhencehecame,
hesaidagain.Butyou'recleanandyoucomefromastar...
Thelittleprincemadenoreply.
Ipityyou,youaresoweakonthisEarthgranite.I
canhelpyouonedayifyougrowtoohomesickforyourownplanet.Ican...

TheLittlePrince

Oh!Iunderstoodverywell,saidthelittleprince,butwhy
doyoualwaysspeakinriddles?
Isolvethemall,saidthesnake.
Andtheyweresilent.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERXVIII
Thelittleprincecrossedthedesertandmeta
flower.Aflowerwiththreepetals,aflowerofnothing...
Hello,saidthelittleprince.
Hello,saidtheflower.
Wherearethemen?politelyaskedthelittleprince.
Theflowerhadonceseenacaravanpassing
Men?Thereare,Ithink,sixorsevenIhave
sawthereyears.Butyouneverknowwheretofindthem.
Thewindblowsthemaway.Theyhavenoroots,itbothersalot.
Goodbyesaidthelittleprince.
Goodbye,saidtheflower.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERXIX
Thelittleprinceclimbedahighmountain.The
onlymountainshehadeverknownwerethethreevolcanoes
whocameuptohisknee.Andheusedtheextinctvolcano
asastool."Fromamountainashighasthisone,
hesaidthen,Ishallseeatoncethewholeplanetandall
men..."Buthesawnothingbutrockneedleswellsharpened.
Goodmorning,hesaidcourteously.
Hello...Hello...Hello...answeredtheecho.
Whoareyou?saidthelittleprince.
Whoareyou...whoareyou...whoareyousaid...echo.
Bemyfriend,Iamalone,hesaid.
I'malone...I'malone...I'malone...answeredtheecho.
"Whatastrangeplanet!hethoughtthen.It'sall
dry,andaltogetherpointed,andaltogetherharsh.Andthepeoplehave
imagination.Theyrepeatwhattheyaretold...AthomeI
aflowershealwaysspokefirst..."

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERXX
Butithappenedthatthelittleprince,havinglongmarket
throughthesand,rocks,andsnow,finallyfounda
road.Andallroadsleadmen.
Goodmorning,hesaid.
Itwasaflowergardenofroses.
Hello,saidtheroses.
Thelittleprincegazed.Theyalllookedlikehisflower.
Whoareyou?heaskedthem,stunned.
Weareroses,saidtheroses.
Ah!saidthelittleprince...
Andhefeltveryunhappy.Hisflowerhadtoldhim
shewasoneofitskindintheworld.Andherehe
wasfivemiles,allalike,inonesinglegarden!
"Itwouldbeverymuchannoyed,hesaid,ifshesawit...Shewouldcough
enormouslyandwouldpretendtodietoescape
ridicule.AndIshouldbeobligedtopretendtocare,
becauseotherwise,tohumblemyselfalso,shewouldleave
reallydie..."
Thenhesaid:"IthoughtIwasrichinflowers
unique,andIhaveanordinaryrose.Thatandmythree
volcanoesthatcomeuptomyknee,andofwhich,perhaps,is
offforever,itdoesnotmakemeagreatgood
prince..."Andhelaydowninthegrassandcried.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERXXI
Itwasthenthatthefoxappeared.
Hello,saidthefox.
Hello,politelyrepliedthelittleprince,whoturned
butsawnothing.
Iamhere,'saidthevoice,undertheappletree.
Whoareyou?saidthelittleprince.Youareverypretty...
Iamafox,thefoxsaid.
Comeplaywithme,proposedthelittleprince.Isosad...
Icannotplaywithyou,saidthefox.I'mnottamed.
Ah!forgiveness,saidthelittleprince.
Butuponreflection,headded:
Whatitmeansto"tame"?
You'renotfromhere,saidthefox,whatareyoulookingfor?
Lookingformen,saidthelittleprince.What
means"tame"?
Men,saidthefox,theyhaveguns,andtheyhunt.
Itisverydisturbing!Theyalsoraisechickens.Itistheir
interestonly.Youlookingforchickens?
No,saidthelittleprince.I'mlookingforfriends.What
whatdoes"tame"?
Itistoooftenneglected,saidthefox.Itmeans
"Createrelationships..."
Createlinks?
Ofcourse,saidthefox.You'restillalittleforme

TheLittlePrince

boyjustlikeahundredthousandotherlittleboys.AndIhave
notneedyou.Andyoudonotneedmeeither.I
amforyouthatlikeahundredthousandotherfoxesfox.But
ifyoutameme,thenweshallneedeachother.Youwillbe
formeunique.Iwillbetheoneyouworld...
Ibegintounderstand,'saidthelittleprince.Thereisa
flower...Ithinkthatshehastamedme...
Itispossible,saidthefox.ItisseeninallEarth
sortsofthings...
Oh!itisnotonEarth,saidthelittleprince.
Thefoxseemedperplexed,andverycurious
Onanotherplanet?
Yes.
Aretherehuntersonthatplanet?
No.
That'sinteresting!Andchickens?
No.
Nothingisperfect,sighedthefox.
80
Buthecamebacktohisidea
Mylifeismonotonous.Ihuntchickens,men
huntme.Allchickensarejustalike,andall
menalike.Iamalittlebored.Butifyou
tameme,mylifewillbesunny.Ishallknow
footstepsthatwillbedifferentfromalltheothers.Othersnot

TheLittlePrince

makemecringe.Yourswillcallmeoutoftheburrow,
likemusic.Andlook!Yousee,there,the
wheatfields?Idonoteatbread.Wheatformeis
useless.Thefieldsofwheatremindme.Andthatis
sad!Butyouhavehairthecolorofgold.Soitwillbewonderful
whenyouhavetamedme!Wheat,whichisgolden,me
willrememberyou.AndIlovethesoundofthewindinthewheat...
Thefoxgazedatthelittleprinceforalongtime:
Please...tameme!hesays.
Iwill,'repliedthelittleprince,butIdidnot
lotoftime.Ihavefriendstodiscover,andmany
thingstoknow.
Wedonotknowthethingsthatonetames,says
fox.Menhavenomoretimetounderstandanything.They
buythingsallreadymadeattheshops.But
asthereexistsnomerchantsoffriends,menhave
morefriends.Ifyouwantafriend,tameme!
Whatdoesitdo?saidthelittleprince.
Youmustbeverypatient,answeredthefox.You'llsit
Firstalittleawayfromme,likethat,inthegrass.I'llwatchyou
thecorneroftheeyeandyouwillsaynothing.Thelanguageis
sourceofmisunderstanding.Buteveryday,youcansit
alittlecloser...
Thenextdaythelittleprincecameback.
Itwouldhavebeenbettertocomebackatthesametime,saidthefox.

TheLittlePrince

Ifyoucome,forexample,atfouro'clockintheafternoon,when
threeo'clockIshallbegintobehappy.Moretimeprogresses,
Ifeelmorehappy.Atfouro'clock,Ishallalready
brandishandIwillworryme,Iwillfindthepriceofhappiness!
Butifyoucomeatjustanytime,Iwillneverknowwhat
Timetodresstheheart...Ittakesrites.
Whatisarite?saidthelittleprince.
Thisissomethingtoooftenforgotten,saidthefox.
Thisiswhatmakeonedaydifferentfromotherdays,one
hourfromotherhours.Thereisarite,forexample,inmy
hunters.EveryThursdaytheydancewiththevillagegirls.Thenthe
Thursdayisawonderfulday!I'llwalkuptothe
vine.Butifthehuntersdancedatjustanytime,everydayis
alllooklike,andIneverhaveanyvacation.
Sothelittleprincetamedthefox.Andwhenthehour
ofhisdeparturedrewnear
Ah!saidthefox...Icry.
It'syourfault,'saidthelittleprince,Ineverwishedyou
wrong,butyouwantedmetotameyou...
Ofcourse,saidthefox.
Butyou'llcry!saidthelittleprince.
Ofcourse,saidthefox.
Thenyouwillwinnothing!
Iwillwin,saidthefox,becauseofthecolorofwheat.
Thenheadded:

TheLittlePrince

Goandlookagainattheroses.Youunderstandnowthatyoursis
unique.Comebacktosaygoodbyetome,andIwillgiftasecret.
Thelittleprincewentawayagainattheroses.
You'renotatalllikemyrose,youare
nothingyet,'hesaid.Noonehastamedyou,andyou
havetamednoone.Youarelikemyfoxwas.
Itwasonlyafoxlikeahundredthousandothers.ButI
didmyfriend,andnowheisuniqueintheworld.
Andtheroseswereverymuchembarrassed.
Youarebeautiful,butyouareempty,hesaidtothem.
Youcannotdieforyou.Ofcourse,mypinktome,a
fromordinaryyouthinkshelookslike.Butit
alonesheismoreimportantthanallofyou,sinceitis
Iwatered.BecauseitisshethatIhaveputundertheglassglobe.
BecauseitisshethatIhaveshelteredbehindthescreen.Sinceitis
herthatIhavekilledthecaterpillars(exceptthetwoorthreeforbutterflies).
BecauseitisshethatIhavelistenedtocomplain,or
boasted,orevensometimesshut.Becausesheismyrose.
Andhereturnedtothefox:
Farewell,hesaid...
Goodbye,saidthefox.Hereismysecret.Itisverysimple:
Oneseesclearlyonlywiththeheart.Theessentialisinvisibletotheeyes.
Theessentialisinvisibletotheeyes,repeatedthelittle
Princetoremember.
Thisisthetimeyouhavewastedforyourrosethatmakesyourrose

TheLittlePrince

soimportant.
ThisisthetimeIhavewastedformyrose...saidthelittle
Princetoremember.
Menhaveforgottenthistruth,'saidthefox.Butyou
mustnotforgetit.Youbecomeresponsible,forever,
whatyouhavetamed.Youareresponsibleforyourrose...
Iamresponsibleformyrose...thelittleprincerepeated,
toremember.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERXXII
Hello,saidthelittleprince.
Hello,saidtheswitchman.
Whatareyoudoinghere?saidthelittleprince.
Isortouttravelers,inbundlesofathousand,said
thedispatcher.Isendoffthetrainsthatcarrythem,sometimestothe
right,nowtotheleft.
Andabrilliantlylighted,growlinglikethunder,was
shooktheswitchman'scabin.
Theyareinagreathurry,saidthelittleprince.Whattheyseek?
Manofthelocomotiveengineerknowshimselfsaysthedispatcher.
Andgrowledintheoppositedirection,aquicksecondilluminated.
Theyalreadyback?askedthelittleprince...
Thesearenotthesame,saidtheswitchman.Thisisaexchange.
Theywerenotsatisfiedwheretheywere?
Weareneverhappywhereyouare,saidtheswitchman.
Andthethundergrowledathirdbrilliantlylighted.
Theypursuingthefirsttravelers?askedthelittleprince.
Theyarepursuingnothingatall,saidtheswitchman.Theysleep
there,ortheyyawn.Thechildrenareflattening
theirnosesagainstthewindows.
Onlythechildrenknowwhattheywant,saidthelittle
prince.Theywastetheirtimeoveraragdolland
itbecomesveryimportant,andifweremovethem,theycry...
Theyarelucky,saidtheswitchman.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERXXIII
Hello,saidthelittleprince.
Hello,saidthemerchant.
Hewasamerchantadvancedpillsthatsoothe
thirst.Itswallowsaweekandwedonotfeelthe
needtodrink.
Whyareyouselling?saidthelittleprince.
Thisisabigsavingsintime,saidthemerchant.The
Expertshavecalculated.Wesavingsfiftythreeminutesweek.
Andwhataboutthesefiftythreeminutes?
Wedowhatwewant...
"I,saidthelittleprince,soIfiftythreeminutes
tospend,Iwalkslowlytowardsafountain..."

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERXXIV
Wewereontheeighthdayofmyaccidentinthedesert,
andIheardthestoryofthemerchantdrinkingthelast
dropofmywatersupply:
Ah!Isaidtothelittleprince,theyareverypretty,yourmemories,
butIhavenotfixedmyplane,Ihavenothingmoreto
drink,andI'dbehappy,too,ifIcouldwalkall
gentlytoafountain!
Myfriendthefox,hesaid...
Mylittleguy,itisthefox!
Why?
Becausewe'regoingtodieofthirst...
Hedidnotunderstandmyreasoning,hereplied:
It'snicetohavehadafriend,evenifyouwilldie.
Iamgladtohavehadafriendfox...
"Itdoesnotmeasurethedanger,Itoldmyself.Heneveror
hungerorthirst.Alittlesunshineishim..."
Buthelookedatmeandrepliedtomythought:
I'mthirstytoo...lookforawell...
Imadeagestureofwearinessitisabsurdtoseek
well,atrandom,intheimmensityofthedesert.However,we
westartedwalking.
Whenwehadtrudgedalongforhoursinsilenceatnight
fell,andthestarsbegantocomeout.Icouldsee
asinadream,withaslightfever,becauseofmythirst.

TheLittlePrince

Thewordsofthelittleprincedancedinmymemory:
Youarethirsty,too?Iasked.
Buthedidnotanswermyquestion.Hejusttoldme:
Watermayalsobegoodfortheheart...
IdidnotunderstandhisanswerbutIsaidnothing...Iknew
althoughitwasnotthequestion.
Hewastired.Hesatdown.Isatdownbesidehim.Andafter
apause,hesaid:
Thestarsarebeautiful,becauseofaflowerthatyoucannotseenot...
Ireplied"ofcourse"andIlooked,withoutspeaking,folds
sandinthemoonlight.
Thedesertisbeautiful,headded...
Anditwastrue.Ihavealwayslovedthedesert.Itsitson
asanddune.Weseenothing.Onehearsnothing.Yet
somethingshinesinsilence...
Whatmakesthedesertbeautiful,saidthelittleprince,isthat
hidesawellsomewhere...
Iwasastonishedbyasuddenunderstandingofthatmysterious
radiationsand.WhenIwasaboyIlived
anoldhouse,andlegendtoldusthatatreasurewas
buried.Ofcourse,noonehaseverbeenabletodiscover,orperhaps
notevensought.Buthecharmedthewholehouse.
Myhomewashidingasecretinhisheart...
Yes,Isaidtothelittleprince,whetherinthehome,
stars,thedesert,makingtheirbeautyisinvisible!

TheLittlePrince

I'mglad,hesaid,whetheryouagreewithmyfox.
Asthelittleprinceslept,Itookhiminmy
arms,andhandedmetheway.Iwasmoved.Itseemedtoweara
delicatetreasure.Itseemedjustastherewasnothingmorefragile,
onEarth.Ilookedinthelightofthemoon,thisfront
pale,theeyesclosed,locksofhairthattrembledin
wind,andsaidtomyself:"WhatIseehereisnothingbutashell.The
mostimportantisinvisible..."
Likehispartedlipssketchedademisourire
Isayagain:"Whatmovesmesodeeplythatlittle
sleepingprinceishisloyaltytoaflower,itistheimage
arosethatshinesthroughhimliketheflameofalamp,
evenwhenheisasleep..."AndIfeltevenmorefragile.It
mustprotectthelamps:agustofwindcanoff...
And,asIwalked,Ifoundthewellatdawn.

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERXXV
Themensaidthelittleprince,theycramin
fast,buttheydonotknowwhattheywant.Thenthey
flutteringandcircling...
Andheadded:
It'snotworthit...
Wellwehadwasnotlikethe
Saharanwell.ThewellsoftheSaharaaremereholesdug
inthesand.Thisonelookedlikeavillagewell.But
therewasnovillage,andIthoughtdream.
It'sstrange,Isaidtothelittleprince,everythingisready:thepulley,
thebucketandrope...
Helaughed,touchedtherope,andthepulley.Andthepulleymoaned
moanedasoldweathervanewhichthewindhaslongslept.
Youhear,'saidthelittleprince,wehavewakenedthewelland
hesings...
Ididnotwanthimtodoaneffort:
Leaveittome,Isaid,it'stooheavyforyou.
Ihoistedthebucketslowlytotheedge.Isatthere
vertical.Inmyearsthesongofthepulley
andinthestilltremblingwater,Icouldseethesunlightshimmer.
I'mthirstyforthiswater,saidthelittleprince,givemedrink...
AndIunderstoodwhathehadbeenlooking
Iraisedthebuckettohislips.Hedrank,hiseyesclosed.
Itwassweetlikeaparty.Thiswaterwasanother

TheLittlePrince

afoodthing.Shewasbornofthewalkunderthestars,
thesongofthepulley,theeffortofmyarms.Shewasgood
fortheheart,asagift.WhenIwasaboy,the
lighttheChristmastree,themusicoftheMidnightMass,the
sweetnessandsmileswereallradiationGift
ChristmasIreceived.
Themenwhereyoulive,saidthelittleprince,raisefive
thousandrosesinonegarden...andtheydonotfindit
theyseek...
Theydonotfindit,Ireplied...
Andyetwhattheyarelookingforcouldbefound
inasinglerose,oralittlewater...
Ofcourse,Ireplied.
Andthelittleprinceadded:
Buttheeyesareblind.Onemustlookwiththeheart.
Idrank.Ibreathedeasily.Thesandatdaybreak,is
honeycolor.Iwasalsohappywiththecolorofhoney.
WhywasitthatIhadofit...
Youmustkeepyourpromise,saidgently
LittlePrince,which,again,wassittingbesideme.
Whatpromise?
Youknow...amuzzleformysheep...Iamresponsible
thisflower!
Icameoutofmypocketmydraftdrawing.Thesmall
Princesawthemandlaughed:

TheLittlePrince

Yourbaobabs,theylookalittlelikecabbages...
Oh!
Ihadbeensoproudofmybaobabs!
Yourfox...ears...theylookalittlelike
horns...andtheyaretoolong!
Andhelaughedagain.
You'rewrong,littleman,Iknowhowtodrawanything
theboasandopenboas.
Oh!itwill,hesaid,childrenknow.
Ipencilsketchofamuzzle.AndIhadaheavyheartin
thegiving:
DoyouhaveplansthatIdonotknow...
Buthedidnotanswerme.Hetoldme:
Youknow,Ifellontheearth...willbetomorrowAnniversary...
Then,afterapause,hesaid:
Ifellnearhere...
Andheblushed.
Andagain,withoutunderstandingwhy,Ihada
griefweird.However,aquestioncametome:
SoitisnotbychancethatinthemorningwhenIfirstmetyou,
Aweekagoyouwerestrollingalonglikethat,allalone,athousand
milesfromanyinhabitedregion?Youbacktotheplace
ofyourfall?
Thelittleprinceflushedagain.
AndIadded,hesitating:

TheLittlePrince

Because,perhaps,Birthday...?
Thelittleprinceflushedagain.Heneveranswered
questions,butwhenyoublush,itmeans"yes",doesitnot?
Ah!Itoldhim,I'mafraid...
Buthereplied:
Nowyoumustwork.Youmustreturntoyour
machine.I'llwaithere.Comebacktomorrowevening...
ButIwasnotreassured.Irememberedthefox.It
riskofweepingalittle,ifonehastamed...

TheLittlePrince

CHAPTERXXVI
Therewas,nexttothewell,ruinofanoldstonewall.
WhenIreturnedtomywork,thenextevening,Isawthe
awaymylittlepricesittingthere,legsdangling.AndI
heardhimsay:
Donotyouremembernotso?hesaid.It'snotall
infacthere!
Anothervoiceansweredhim,forhereplied:
Yes!If!thisistheday,butthisisnottheplace...
Icontinuedmywalktowardthewall.Isawneither
nothearanyone.Butthelittleprincerepliedagain:
...Ofcourse.Youwillseewheremytrackbeginsinthe
sand.Youjusthavetowaitformethere.I'llbetheretonight.
IwasonlytwentymetersfromthewallandIstillsawnothing.
Thelittleprincesaid,afterapause:
Youhavegoodpoison?Yousureyoudonotmakemesufferlong?
Istopped,withaheavyheart,butIstillunderstandnot.
Nowgoaway,hesaid...I'mdown!
SoIdroppedmyeyestothewall,and
Ileaped!Itwasthere,facingthelittleprince,oneofthese
yellowsnakesthattakejustthirtyseconds.While
diggingintomypockettogetoutmyrevolver,Itookno
race,butthenoiseImade,thesnakelethimself
sinkinthesand,likeajetofwaterthatdies,andwithouttoo
hurry,slippedbetweenthestoneswithalightmetallicsound.

TheLittlePrince

Ireachedthewalljustintimetoreceivein
armsmymerryprince,paleassnow.
Whatisthisstory!Whyareyoutalkingwithsnakes!
Iundidhiseternalmufflersgold.Ihadwet
thetemples,andhadtodrink.AndnowIdonotdare
askhimanything.Helookedatmeseriouslyandaroundmyneck
hisarms.Ifeltherheartbeatlikeabird
whodiedwhenhewasshotwitharifle.Hetoldme:
I'mgladyoufoundwhatwasinyour
machine.You'llbeabletogohome...
Howdoyouknow!
Iwasjustcomingtotellhimthat,againstallhope,
Imanagedmywork!
Hedidnotanswermyquestion,butheadded:
Metoo,nowI'mgoinghome...
Then,sadly:
Itismuchfarther...itismuchmoredifficult...
Ifeltthatsomethingwas
extraordinary.Iclutchedinherarmslikealittlechild,
andyetitseemedtomethathewasrushingheadlong
intoanabyssfromwhichIcoulddonothingtorestrain...
Hehadaseriouslooklostfaraway
Ihaveyoursheep.AndIhavethecashforthesheep.AndIhavemuzzle...
Andhesmiledwistfully.
Iwaitedalongtime.Ifeltthathewasrevivinglittlelittle:

TheLittlePrince

Littleman,youwerescared...
Hewasafraid,ofcourse!Buthechuckled:
Ishallbemuchmoreafraidthisevening...
OnceagainIfeltmyselffrozenbythesenseof
irreparable.AndIrealizedthatIcouldnotstandtheideaofnot
neverhearthatlaugh.Formeitwaslikeafountain
inthedesert.
Littleman,Istillwanttohearyoulaugh...
Buthetoldme:
Tonight,itwillbeayear.Mystarwillbejustaudessus
theplacewhereIfelllastyear...
Littleman,isnotthatitisabaddream
thisaffairofthesnakeandgoandstar...
Buthedidnotanswermyquestion.Hetoldme:
Whatisimportant,itdoesnotshow...
Sure...
It'sliketheflower.Ifyouloveaflowerthat
inastar,itissweetatnight,staringatthesky.
Allthestarsareflowering.
Sure...
It'slikewater.Thatyougavemetodrink
waslikemusic,becauseofthepulleyandrope...
youremember...itwasgood.
Sure...
Youwilllookatnight,thestars.It'stoosmallin

TheLittlePrince

meIwillshowyouwheremine.Itisbetter
likethat.Mystarwilljustbeoneofthestarsforyou.So
allthestarsyoulovetowatch...Theywillall
yourfriends.AndthenI'llgiveyouagift...
Helaughedagain.
Ah!littleguy,littleguyIliketohearthatlaugh!
Exactlywhatwillbemygift...itwillbelikeforwater...
Whatdoyoumean?
Peoplehavestarsthatarenotthesame.Of
some,whoaretravelers,thestarsareguides.Forother
theyarenothingmorethanlittlelights.Forothers,who
arescholars,theyareproblems.Formybusinessman
theyweregold.Butallthesestarsaresilent.Thou
willhavethestarsasnooneelsehas...
Whatdoyoumean?
Whenyoulookattheskyatnight,sinceIwilldwell
inoneofthem,sinceIlaughinoneofthem,thenitwill
toyouasifallthestarswerelaughing.Youwill,you,the
starsthatcanlaugh!
Andhelaughedagain.
Andwhenyoursorrowiscomforted(timesoothesallsorrows)youwillbe
gladtohaveknownme.You'llalwaysbemyfriend.You
willwanttolaughwithme.Andyouwillsometimesopenyourwindow,
likethat,forfun...Andyourfriendswillbeproperlyastonishedtoseeyou
seelaughlookingatthesky.Thentellthem,"Yes,the

TheLittlePrince

stars,italwaysmakesmelaugh!"Andtheywillthinkyouarecrazy.I
youwillhaveplayedaveryshabbytrick...
Andhelaughedagain.
ItwillbeasifIhadgivenyou,insteadofstars,
oflittlebellsthatcanlaugh...
Andhelaughedagain.Thenhebecameserious:
Tonight...youknow...donotcome.
Idonotleaveyou.
I'lllookithurts...Ihavealittleairtodie.
It'slikethat.Donotcometoseethatitisnotworthit...
Idonotleaveyou.
Buthewasworried.
I'mtellingyou...it'salsobecauseofthesnake.Itshouldnotbe
hebiteyou...Snakesisbad.Itcanbiteforfun...
Idonotleaveyou.
Butsomethingreassured
Itistruethattheyhavemorepoisonforasecondbite...
ThatnightIdidnotseehimgetgoing.Hewas
escapedwithoutnoise.WhenImanagedtojoinhewaswalking
atarapidpace.Hesaidonly:
Ah!you'rehere...
Andhetookmebythehand.Buthewasstillworrying
Youwerewrong.Getthepenalty.I'lllooklike
deathanditwillnotbetrue...
Isaidnothing.

TheLittlePrince

Youunderstand.It'stoofar.Icannottake
thatbody.It'stooheavy.
Isaidnothing.
Butitwillbelikeanoldabandonedshell.This
Thereisnothingsadaboutoldshells...
Isaidnothing.
Itwasalittlediscouraged.Buthemadeaneffort:
Thiswillbenice,youknow.Ialsolookatthestars.
Allthestarswillbewellswitharustypulley.
Allthestarswillpourmeadrink...
Isaidnothing.
Itwillbesofun!Youwillhavefivehundredmillion
ofbells,Ihavefivehundredmillionsprings...
Andhetoosaidnothing,becausehewascrying...
That'sit.Letmegoonalone.
Andhesatdownbecausehewasafraid.
Hesaid:
Youknow...myflower...Iamresponsible!Anditisso
low!Andsheissonaive.Shehasfourthorns
nothingatalltoprotectagainsttheworld...
IsatdownbecauseIcouldnotstandup.
Hesays:
That's...That'sall...
Hehesitatedalittle,thenhestoodup.Hetookastep.I
couldnotmove.

TheLittlePrince

Therewasnothingbutaflashofyellowclosetohisankle.Heremained
foramoment.Hedidnotcry.Hefellslowly
asatreefalls.Itdoesnotevenmadenoisebecauseofsand.

CHAPTERXXVII

TheLittlePrince

Andnow,ofcourse,it'sbeensixyearsalready...Inever
yettoldthisstory.Thecomradeswhohaveseenme
werehappytoseemealive.IwassadbutItheir
said:"Thisisfatigue..."
NowI'malittlecomforted.Thatisnottosay...
altogether.ButIknowhe'sbacktohisplanet,because,
daybreak,Ihavenotfoundhisbody.Itwasnota
suchaheavybody...andatnightIlovetolistentothestars.Itis
likefivehundredmillionlittlebells...
Buthereitgoessomethingextraordinary.The
Idrewmuzzleforthelittleprince,Iforgotto
addtheleatherstrap!Hehasneverbeenabletoattachto
sheep.SoIaskmyself,"Whathashappenedontheplanet
?Perhapsthesheephaseatentheflower..."
SometimesIsaytomyself:"Surelynot!Thelittleprinceshuts
itsflowereverynightunderhisglassglobeandmonitors
hissheepverycarefully..."ThenIamhappy.Andallthestarslaughingsoftly.
SometimesIsaytomyself:"Itisdistractedatonetimeoranother,andit
enough!Heforgotonenight,theglassglobe,orthesheep
cameoutquietlyinthenight..."Thenthebellsarechangedtotears...
Thisisagreatmystery.Foryouwholikeittoo
thelittleprince,andforme,nothingintheuniverseisifsomewhere,
wedonotknowwhere,asheepthatwedo
knowithasnot,ornoteatenarose...
Lookatthesky.Askyourselfsheepyesorno?

TheLittlePrince

eatentheflower?Andyouwillseehoweverythingchanges...
Andnogrownupwilleverunderstandthatthishassoimportant!
Thatis,forme,themostbeautifulandsaddestlandscape
world.Thisisthesameasthatonthepreviouspage
butIhavedrawnitagaintoimpressitonshow.
ItisherethatthelittleprinceappearedonEarth,anddisappeared.
Lookatitcarefullytobesuretorecognize,
ifyoutravelsomedaytotheAfricandesert.And,
ifyouhappentopassby,Ibegyou,donothurry
no,waitjustalittleunderthestars!Ifthenachild
comestoyou,hewholaughs,whohasgoldenhairdoesnotrespond
whenasked,youknowwhoheis.Sobe
nice!Donotleavemesosad:emailmesoonhereturned...