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Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince is more than a children’s book. It’s a quiet, poetic guide for grown-ups who might’ve forgotten how to see with their hearts. Now, counting down to the best quotes is equally full of wonder, love, and quiet wisdom.
Here are the 15 best Little Prince quotes, ranked not just by popularity but by how deeply they speak to the human heart.
15. “You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.”
This quote hits different when you think about the people and pets you’ve loved. Taming isn’t just about control; it’s about building bonds. The Little Prince says this after understanding the deep responsibility that comes with connection. When you care for someone, you can’t just walk away. There’s a piece of you tied to them. That’s the beauty and the weight of love.
14. “Straight ahead of him, nobody can go very far…”
It’s short but surprisingly loaded. The Little Prince says this to a geographer who never leaves his desk. It’s a little nudge to those stuck in routines, always charging forward but not going anywhere.
Life isn’t just about moving fast or in a straight line. Sometimes it’s about exploring the unknown, wandering a little, and taking the less obvious path.
13. “It is such a mysterious place, the land of tears.”
This line is quiet and tender. It shows how the Little Prince sees sadness not as weakness but as something sacred. The land of tears is a place people visit but never really talk about. Sometimes there are no right words when someone’s hurting. This quote is a reminder that pain has depth and deserves gentleness, not fixes.
12. “What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.”
On the surface, it’s about the desert. But really, it’s about life. Even in empty, hard places, there’s something worth finding. The quote speaks to the hopeful part of people who believe meaning is hidden under the surface. The desert can feel like sadness or loss. But the well, even if unseen, is always there. Sometimes, people just have to dig a little.
11. “Words are the source of misunderstandings.”
This one’s a little ironic, given it’s a quote. But it’s true. Many rely on words, yet they fail us so often. People say one thing and mean another. Feelings get tangled up.
The Little Prince says this when he realizes how much is lost in translation, even with those he cares about. Real understanding often goes beyond what we say out loud.
10. “One only understands the things that one tames.”
The fox teaches this to the Little Prince, and it’s a big moment. It flips the idea of love upside down. Love isn’t instant. It grows with care, time, and patience.
To tame is to pay attention. It means showing up, listening, and being present. Only then can you understand someone’s world.
9. “The eyes are blind. One must look with the heart.”
This quote is often cited, and for good reason. It’s the heart of the book. So much of life is invisible to our eyes—beauty, love, loyalty. People only really see people when they feel them, not just by looking. It’s a reminder to stop focusing on appearances. What matters most is underneath.
8. “All grown-ups were once children… but only few of them remember it.”
If this doesn’t make you pause, no one knows what will. Adults forget what it’s like to be small, curious, and full of wonder. The Little Prince gently calls that out. He’s not judging, just noticing. And maybe nudging us to remember the joy and wildness of being a kid again. That’s where imagination still lives.
7. “It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”
This might be one of the most romantic lines ever. The time you give to someone or something, even if others don’t get it, is what makes it yours.
The rose is the Little Prince’s love. Others may look the same, but none are his. Because he chose her. This quote is about love, loyalty, and intention.
6. “Grow five thousand roses in one garden… yet they don’t find what they’re looking for.”
This one hits hard in a world full of options. People search and collect, and scroll, but still feel empty. The Little Prince notices how people overlook what’s close and true. Sometimes what people are looking for isn’t more, it’s something deeper. It’s connection. And you don’t need a garden of roses for that.
5. “Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves…”
A little bit sassy, but also pretty fair. Adults tend to overcomplicate or dismiss things kids understand with ease. The Little Prince gets frustrated with that.
So, this quote points to a truth many people feel. Sometimes adults forget how to just be. They need everything explained. But maybe not everything needs to be logical. Some things are just felt.
4. “To forget a friend is sad. Not everyone has had a friend.”
Friendship is sacred in The Little Prince. It’s not about popularity or numbers. It’s about one true bond. This quote makes us think about the people we’ve lost touch with.
It’s gentle, but it stings a little. Forgetting a friend is more than just forgetting a name. It’s forgetting a connection that mattered.
3. “I am looking for friends. What does that mean—tame?”
This is the moment when the Little Prince starts to understand love. He’s open, curious, and willing to learn. The fox’s reply changes everything. It’s like people don’t often ask what connection means. Perhaps, this line is a reminder that building a bond takes effort, trust, and time. Friendship isn’t random. It’s made.
2. “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly.”
This line deserves every poster and Instagram quote it gets. It’s the soul of the book. The fox says it, and it changes the Little Prince forever.
It’s not the mind, not logic, not appearances. It’s the heart. It’s the place where truth lives. And it’s where love begins. This line wraps everything the story wants to tell us into one sentence.
1. “What is essential is invisible to the eye.”
The most famous quote, and the one most likely to stay with you forever. It’s the guiding light of the book and the reason people reread it again and again. Love, trust, hope, sorrow. These are the things that shape us, and none of them can be seen. The Little Prince says this, and we all nod, quietly remembering how true it is.
The Little Adults
The Little Prince isn’t just about planets and foxes and stars. It’s about all the invisible things that matter more than anything else. These quotes are little reminders, tucked into a story, that tell us to slow down and feel.