The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Grounding; a knowledge of the basic facts about a particular subject:

This course is designed to give drivers a grounding in car maintenance.

Cambridge Dictionay

Page Descripion

“The Little Prince” explores the human condition – our experiences, emotions, struggles, and aspirations – in a universal journey
of meaning and purpose.

1 The human condition

The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is deeply connected to the human condition. Through the adventures of the Little Prince and his encounters with various characters on different planets, the story explores themes such as loneliness, friendship, love, loss, and the search for meaning in life. It delves into the complexities of human relationships, the innocence of childhood, the wisdom of simplicity, and the importance of seeing with the heart rather than just the eyes. Overall, “The Little Prince” offers profound insights into the human experience, making it a classic reflection on the human condition.

“The human condition” is a more natural and commonly used phrase in English to capture the essence of “Het verschijnsel mens.” It conveys the idea of the fundamental nature and experiences shared by all human beings. It’s a phrase that’s often used in discussions about philosophy, literature, sociology, and psychology.

“The human condition” is a phrase that encapsulates the essence of human existence, encompassing our experiences, emotions, struggles, and aspirations. It’s often used in philosophical and existential discussions, exploring the universal aspects of what it means to be human. If Charles de Foucauld used “Het verschijnsel mens” in the context of “the human condition,” it aligns well with the broader understanding of the phrase.

“The Little Prince” is a novella written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, originally published in 1943. It is a philosophical and allegorical story that is often regarded as a children’s book but has deep meaning and resonates with readers of all ages. Here are some key points from the story:

  1. The Narrator: The story is narrated by a pilot who has crashed his plane in the Sahara Desert. The pilot meets the Little Prince, a young boy from another planet, who becomes his friend and teaches him important life lessons.

  2. The Little Prince: The Little Prince is a curious and innocent boy who travels from planet to planet, meeting various inhabitants and learning about their unique perspectives on life. He asks profound questions about the nature of human existence and challenges the way people view the world.

  3. Planets and Characters: The Little Prince visits several planets, each inhabited by a different character, including a king, a conceited man, a businessman, a lamplighter, a geographer, and a fox. Through these encounters, the Little Prince learns about the flaws and idiosyncrasies of adult human nature and the importance of seeing beyond appearances.

  4. Themes of Love and Friendship: Love and friendship are central themes in the story. The Little Prince forms a deep bond with a rose on his planet, which represents love and beauty to him. He also befriends a fox who teaches him the value of taming and developing meaningful connections with others.

  5. Exploration of Human Nature: “The Little Prince” delves into the complexities of human nature, criticizing grown-ups for their preoccupation with materialism, power, and superficial matters. It emphasizes the importance of cultivating childlike wonder, imagination, and a sense of awe towards the world.

  6. Reflections on Life and Death: The story addresses existential questions about the meaning of life and the inevitability of death. The Little Prince’s journey through different planets and encounters with various characters prompt him to contemplate the nature of existence and the transient nature of life.

  7. Symbolism and Allegory: “The Little Prince” employs rich symbolism and allegory to convey deeper meanings. For example, the rose represents love, the desert symbolizes the emptiness and vastness of the adult world, and the snake represents death. The story encourages readers to interpret and contemplate its allegorical elements.

  8. Artwork: “The Little Prince” is known for its illustrations, which were drawn by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry himself. The simple yet evocative drawings add depth and charm to the story, enhancing its visual appeal and emotional impact.

Overall, “The Little Prince” is a beloved literary work that captures the hearts of readers with its poetic language, timeless themes, and poignant messages about life, love, and the human condition.

“If you please – draw me a sheep!” are the first words of the Little Prince.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is an extraordinary and timeless book about the mystery of love and friendship.
And about how to grow up without losing the child in yourself.

One day the Little Prince decides to go on a journey.

First he comes to an asteroid with a king with no subjects.
He tells the Little Prince that authority is based on common sense.

A conceited man lives on the second planet and the third planet is inhabited by a drunkard.
The businessman on the fourth planet is too busy to talk. He is busy counting the stars.

So he leaves and visits the fifth planet which is just big enough for a lamppost and a lamplighter, who is overtired because the planet is constantly turning faster and he now has to light and extinguish the lamp within one minute.

The next planet is ten times as big and is inhabited by an elderly geographer who is unemployed because there are no explorers who can tell him what the planet looks like.

Once arrives on earth, he meets a pilot who had crashed in the Sahara.
A fox who teaches The little Prince that if a person tames you, that person’s life becomes meaningful and that it makes both people different than all the others who are actually the same.

2. The book « The Little Prince »

Saint-Exupéry wrote this modern fairy-tale when he was staying in a hotel in New York.
It is his most famous book and is the most frequently translated book in French literature.

The Little Prince appears to be a children’s book but the reader soon discovered the various profound and idealistic insights about life.
During his conversations with the Little Prince, the author reveals his own vison of the peculiarities of humanity.
He shows the simple sensibility that adults seem to forget when they grow up.

The Little Prince, lives on a small planet with a rose and three volcanoes. He spends the day caring for his rose and with pulling out baobab trees that are constantly growing like weeds form the ground and could destroy his planet.

One day the Prince leaves his planet to see what the rest of the universe looks like and he visits several other planets.
Each of the planets is inhabited or ruled by an adult who makes themselves ridiculous in one way or another.

Cambridge dictionary


Peculiarity

the quality of being strange or unusual, or an unusual characteristic or habit

You couldn’t help but be aware of the peculiarity of the situation.
Well, we all have our little peculiarities, don’t we?

Sensibility

an understanding of or ability to decide about what is good or valuable, especially in connection with artistic or social activities:

literary/musical/artistic/theatrical/aesthetic sensibility

The author has applied a modern sensibility (= way of understanding things) to the social ideals of an earlier age.

sensibilities [ plural ]

feelings:
In a multicultural society we need to show respect for the sensibilities of others.

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3. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Antoine Marie Jean-Baptiste Roger de Saint-Exupéry was born on 29 June 1900 near Lyon, France.

He grew up in an aristocratic family and had three younger sisters and a younger brother. Antoine had his first flight aged 12 and decided to become a pilot. During his obligatory military service in 1922 he gained his pilot’s wings.

After his military service he worked in a factory for a while, but quickly returned to flying and became a cargo pilot. Initially in Africa, where he once crash landed and later on in South America.

In addition to his passion for flying, he was also an enthusiastic writer. He became well-known during his lifetime as an author and reported on the Spanish Civil War as a journalist. He does not have an extensive oeuvre but is one of the best-selling French literature.

At the outbreak of the Second World War he became a flight instructor with the French Air Force. After the French defeat he emigrated to the United States but returned to Europe in 1943 when he joined the French resistance.

Saint-Exupéry disappeared in July 1944 during a reconnaissance mission over occupied France, which led to speculation about his cause of death.

His disappearance remained a mystery for a long time as neither his plane nor his body were found. His plane was only found in the sea near Marseille in early 2000.

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2 Dutch

“Toe teken eens ’n schaap voor me”, zijn de eerst woorden van de kleine prins.
De Kleine Prins van Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is een buitengewoon en tijdloos boek over het mysterie van liefde en vriendschap.
En over hoe je groot kan worden zonder het kind in jezelf te verliezen.

1. De reis van de Kleine Prins

Op een dag besluit de Kleine Prins om op reis te gaan.

Eerst komt hij bij een astroïde met een koning zonder onderdanen.
Hij vertelt de Kleine Prince dat gezag berust op gezond verstand.

Op de tweede planeet woont een ijdeltuit en op de derde planeet een drinker. De zakenman op de vierde planeet vindt dat hij het te druk heeft om te praten. Hij is druk bezig met de sterren te tellen omdat hij denkt dat die van hem zijn.

Dus vertrekt de Kleine Prins naar de vijfde planeet die net groot genoeg is voor een lantaarnpaal en een lantaarnpaalaansteker, die oververmoeid is omdat de planeet steeds sneller draait en hij nu binnen één minuut de lantaarnpaal aan en uit moet doen.

De volgende planeet is tien keer zo groot en wordt bewoond door een aardrijkskundige die werkloos is omdat er geen ontdekkingsreizigers wonen.

Aangekomen op de aarde ontmoet hij de piloot die met pech in de Sahara is gestrand.
Een vos leert de Kleine Prins dat als je iemand temt het leven van die persoon nuttig wordt en dat dit beide personen anders maakt dan al die anderen die eigenlijk hetzelfde zijn.

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9-year-old Matthias Schoenaerts and his dad Julien playing The Little Prince in 1987 [w/ subtitles]

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Turn on the Closed Captions button to display the subtitles. English subtitles by HolandaChiquita.

Father and son rehearsing the play “The Little Prince” in 1987, in Belgium. Matthias was 9 years old at the time. Julien played The Aviator and was also the director. Matthias’ mother, Dominique Wiche, was the costume designer of the play.

Julien Schoenaerts said this about the play to Humo: “I have many beautiful things in my life, but ‘The Little Prince’ is my dearest. Not only because it was such a beautiful play, but mostly because I’ve played together with Matthias.”

Matthias Schoenaerts in Daens (1992) (with English subtitles)


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Matthias Schoenaerts at the age of 13 in the Belgian film “Daens”, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Matthias had a minor role as Wannes Scholliers, one of the brothers of the lead character, Nette Scholliers, played by Antje de Boeck.

2. Het boek “De Kleine Prins”

Saint-Exupéry schreef dit moderne sprookje toen hij in een hotel in New York verbleef.

Het is zijn bekendste boek en geldt als het vaakst vertaalde boek uit de Franse literatuur.

Ogenschijnlijk is De Kleine Prins een kinderboek, maar de lezer ontdekt al snel de verschillende diepzinnige en idealistische inzichten over het leven …

Tijdens het gesprek met de Kleine Prins openbaart de schrijver zijn eigen visie op de eigenaardigheden van de mensheid.
Hij laat de eenvoudige verstandigheid zien die volwassenen lijken te vergeten wanneer zo opgroeien.

Het prinsje woont op een kleine planeet met een roos en drie vulkaantjes. Hij brengt de dag door met de verzorging van zijn roos en met het uitroeien van apenbroodbomen, die steeds weer als onkruid uit de grond schieten en zijn planeet uit elkaar kunnen scheuren.

Op een dag verlaat de prins de planeet, om te zien hoe de rest van het heelal eruit ziet en hij bezoekt verschillende andere planeetjes.
Elk van die planeetjes wordt bewoond of beheerst door een volwassene die zichzelf op één of andere manier belachelijk maakt.

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3. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Antoine Marie Jean-Baptiste Roger de Saint Exupéry werd geboren op 29 juni 1900 in de buurt van Lyon, Frankrijk.

Hij groeide op in een aristocratische familie en had drie zusjes en een broertje.

Antoine maakte zijn eerste vlucht op 12 jarige leeftijd en besloot piloot te worden.

Tijdens zijn verplichte militaire dienst in 1922 ontving hij zijn vleugels als piloot.

Na zijn legerdienst werkte hij een poosje in een fabriek, maar keerde snel terug naar de luchtvaart en werd vrachtpiloot. Eerst in Afrika waar hij neerstortte, later in Zuid Amerika.
Behalve zijn hartstocht voor vliegen was hij ook een gepassioneerd schrijver.

Hij werd gedurende zijn leven al bekend als auteur en versloeg als journalist de Spaanse burgeroorlog. Zijn werk was niet omvangrijk, maar behoort wel tot best verkochte Franse literatuur.

Bij het uitbreken van de Tweede Wereldoorlog werd hij vlieginstructeur bij de Franse luchtmacht. Na de Franse nederlaag week hij uit naar de Verenigde Staten, maar keerde in 1943 terug naar Europa waar hij zich aansloot bij het Franse verzet.

Saint-Exupéry verdween in juli 1944 terwijl hij een verkenningsmissie boven bezet Frankrijk uitvoerde, wat leidde tot speculatie over zijn doodsoorzaak.

Lang bleef zijn verdwijning een mysterie, omdat zijn lichaam noch zijn vliegtuig werden teruggevonden.

Zijn vliegtuig werd pas begin 2000 in de zee voor Marseille teruggevonden.

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3 French

« S’il vous plait … dessine-moi un mouton ! » sont les premiers mots du Petit Prince.
Le Petit Prince, d’Antoine de Saint Exupery est un livre intemporel sur le mystère de l’amour et l’amitié.
Et sur comment grandir sans perdre l’enfant qui est en nous.

1. Le voyage du Petit Prince

Un beau jour, le Petit Prince décide de partir en voyage.

Il arrive tout d’abord sur un astéroïde habité par un roi sans sujets.
Le roi raconte au Petit Prince que l’autorité repose sur la raison.

Sur la deuxième planète vit un vaniteux et la troisième planète est habitée par un buveur.
Le businessman de la quatrième planète s’estime trop occupé pour discuter. Il est très occupé à compter les étoiles.

Le Petit Prince part donc pour la cinquième planète, tout juste assez grande pour accélérer un réverbère et un allumeur de réverbères, épuisé parce que sa planète tourne de plus en plus vite et qu’il doit désormais allumer et éteindre son lampadaire toute les minutes.

La planète suivante est dix fois plus grande et habitée par un géographe qui ne peut pas travailler, car il n’a pas d’explorateurs qui pourraient lui dire à quoi ressemble la planète.

Une fois arrivé sur Terre, il rencontre un pilote, tombé en panne dans le Sahara.
Il rencontre un renard qui lui apprend que, lorsqu’on apprivoise quelqu’un, la vie de cette personne devient utile et que cela rend le deux personne différentes de toutes les autres, qui semblent, sinon, toutes identiques.

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2. Le livre “Le Petit Prince”

Saint-Exupéry écrit ce conte moderne alors qu’il séjourne dans hôtel à New York.
Il s’agit de son livre le plus célèbre et de œuvre de littérature Françoise la plus souvent traduite.

A première vue, Le Petit Prince est un livre pour enfant, mais le lecteur y découvre rapidement différents enseignants profonds et idéalistes sur la vie …

Au cours de conversation avec Le Petit Prince, l’auteur révèle sa propre vison des particularités humaines. Il rappelle au lecteur la sagesse simple que les adultes semblent oublier en grandissant.

Le Petit Prince vit sur une petite planète avec une rose et trois petits volcans.

Il passe ses journées à prendre soin de sa rose et éliminer les baobabs, qui repoussent sans cesse tels de mauvaises herbes et pourraient faire éclater sa planète.

Un beau jour, le prince quitte sa planète pour voir à quoi ressemble le reste de l’univers et visite plusieurs autres planètes.

Chacune de ces petites planètes est habitée ou régie par un adulte qui se rend ridicule d’une façon ou d’une autre.

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3. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Antoine Marie Jean-Baptiste Roger de Saint-Exupéry naît le 29 juin 1900 près de Lyon, en France.
Il grandit au sein d’une famille aristocratique avec trois sœurs et un frère.
Antoine effectue son premier vol à l’âge de 12 ans et décide de devenir pilote.
Pendant son service militaire obligatoire, en 1922, il obtient ses ailes de pilotes.

Après l’armée, il travaille quelque temps dans une usine, mais revient vite à l’aviation et devient pilote de fret, d’abord en Afrique, où il s’écrase une fois, puis en Amérique du Sud.

Outre son amour pour l’aviation, c’est aussi un écrivain passionné. Il est déjà célèbre de son vivant en tant qu’auteur et couvre la guerre civile espagnole en tant que journaliste. Son œuvre n’est pas très volumineuse, mais elle se close parmi la littérature française la plus vendue.

Lorsque la Seconde Guerre mondiale éclate, il devient instructeur de vol dans l’armée de air française. Après la défaite de la France, il s’expatrie aux Etats-Unis, mais revient en Europe en 1943 pour rejoindre les rangs de la résistance française.

Saint-Exupéry disparaît en juillet 1944 pendant une mission de reconnaissance au dessus de la France occupée, ce qui conduit à diverses spéculations quant à la cause de son décès.

Sa disparition restera longtemps auréolée de mystère, son corps et son avion n’ayant pas été retrouvés. Son avion sera finalement retrouvé en 2000, dans la mer, près de Marseille.

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4 Extracts from The Little Prince in English

It was then that the fox appeared.

“Good morning,” said the fox.

“Good morning,” the little prince responded politely, although when he turned around he saw nothing.

“I am right here,” the voice said, “under the apple tree.”

“Who are you?” asked the little prince, and added, “You are very pretty to look at.” “I am a fox,” the fox said.

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“Who are you?” asked the little prince, and added, “You are very pretty to look at.”

“I am a fox,” the fox said.

“Come and play with me,” proposed the little prince. “I am so unhappy.”

“I cannot play with you,” the fox said. “I am not tamed.”

“Ah! Please excuse me,” said the little prince.

But, after some thought, he added:

“What does that mean–‘tame’?”

“You do not live here,” said the fox. “What is it that you are looking for?”

“I am looking for men,” said the little prince. “What does that mean–‘tame’?”

“Men,” said the fox. “They have guns, and they hunt. It is very disturbing. They also raise chickens. These are their only interests. Are you looking for chickens?”

“No,” said the little prince. “I am looking for friends. What does that mean–‘tame’?”

“It is an act too often neglected,” said the fox. It means to establish ties.”

“‘To establish ties’?”

“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 . . .”

“I am beginning to understand,” said the little prince. “There is a flower . . . I think that she has tamed me . . .”

“It is possible,” said the fox. “On the Earth one sees all sorts of things.”

“Oh, but this is not on the Earth!” said the little prince.

The fox seemed perplexed, and very curious.

“On another planet?”

“Yes.”

“Are there hunters on that planet?”

“No.”

“Ah, that is interesting! Are there chickens?”

“No.”

“Nothing is perfect,” sighed the fox.

But he came back to his idea.

“My life is very monotonous,” the fox said. “I hunt chickens; men hunt me. All the chickens are just alike, and all the men are just alike. And, in consequence, I am a little bored. But if you tame me, it will be as if the sun came to shine on my life. I shall know the sound of a step that will be different from all the others. Other steps send me hurrying back underneath the ground. Yours will call me, like music, out of my burrow. And then look: you see the grain-fields down yonder? I do not eat bread. Wheat is of no use to me. The wheat fields have nothing to say to me. And that is sad. But you have hair that is the color of gold. Think how wonderful that will be when you have tamed me! The grain, which is also golden, will bring me back the thought of you. And I shall love to listen to the wind in the wheat . . .”

The fox gazed at the little prince, for a long time.

“Please–tame me!” he said.

The Little Prince. Please tame me.

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“I want to, very much,” the little prince replied. “But I have not much time. I have friends to discover, and a great many things to understand.”

“One only understands the things that one tames,” said the fox. “Men have no more time to understand anything. They buy things all ready made at the shops. But there is no shop anywhere where one can buy friendship, and so men have no friends any more. If you want a friend, tame me . . .”

“What must I do, to tame you?” asked the little prince.

“You must be very patient,” replied the fox. “First you will sit down at a little distance from me–like that–in the grass. I shall look at you out of the corner of my eye, and you will say nothing. Words are the source of misunderstandings. But you will sit a little closer to me, every day . . .”

The next day the little prince came back.

“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 . . . One must observe the proper rites . . .”

“What is a rite?” asked the little prince.

“Those also are actions too often neglected,” said the fox. “They are what make one day different from other days, one hour from other hours. There is a rite, for example, among my hunters. Every Thursday they dance with the village girls. So Thursday is a wonderful day for me! I can take a walk as far as the vineyards. But if the hunters danced at just any time, every day would be like every other day, and I should never have any vacation at all.” 

So the little prince tamed the fox. And when the hour of his departure drew near–

“Ah,” said the fox, “I shall cry.”

“It is your own fault,” said the little prince. “I never wished you any sort of harm; but you wanted me to tame you . . .”

“Yes, that is so,” said the fox.

“But now you are going to cry!” said the little prince.

“Yes, that is so,” said the fox.

“Then it has done you no good at all!”

“It has done me good,” said the fox, “because of the color of the wheat fields.” And then he added:

“Go and look again at the roses. You will understand now that yours is unique in all the world. Then come back to say goodbye to me, and I will make you a present of a secret.” 

The little prince went away, to look again at the roses.

“You are not at all like my rose,” he said. “As yet you are nothing. No one has tamed you, and you have tamed no one. You are like my fox when I first knew him. He was only a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But I have made him my friend, and now he is unique in all the world.”

And the roses were very much embarassed.

“You are beautiful, but you are empty,” he went on. “One could not die for you. To be sure, an ordinary passerby would think that my rose looked just like you–the rose that belongs to me. But in herself alone she is more important than all the hundreds of you other roses: because it is she that I have watered; because it is she that I have put under the glass globe; because it is she that I have sheltered behind the screen; because it is for her that I have killed the caterpillars (except the two or three that we saved to become butterflies); because it is she that I have listened to, when she grumbled, or boasted, or ever sometimes when she said nothing. Because she is my rose. 

And he went back to meet the fox.

“Goodbye,” he said.

“Goodbye,” said the fox. “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

“What is essential is invisible to the eye,” the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.

“It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”

“It is the time I have wasted for my rose–” said the little prince, so that he would be sure to remember.

“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 . . .”

“I am responsible for my rose,” the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.

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1 Le Petit Prince – avec texte en français – Chapitre 1

28 dec. 2017

PUEDES REDUCIR LA VELOCIDAD DE LECTURA EN EL BOTÓN DE OPCIONES DEL LECTOR DE VÍDEOS
 
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Le Petit Prince (El Principito) es la obra más famosa del escritor y aviador francés Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Fue publicada en el 1943 y se ha convertido en el libro más traducido en el mundo después de la Biblia. Esta escrito en un estilo sencillo para que lo puedan leer los niños, ya que se trata de un cuento infantil.Así que es un buen material para estudiar francés.
 
Lección gratis con este vídeo y transcripción del texto en francés y español: http://frances-facil.com/le-petit-pri…

2 Livre audio pour enfants – Le petit prince Antoine de Saint Exupéry lu par Pierre Arditi

 
13 jan 2021
 
Le petit prince Antoine de Saint Exupéry lu par Pierre Arditi

The narrator, a pilot, tells how he meets the Little Prince after an emergency landing with his plane in the desert. You discover the wise and enchanting stories that the little Prince tells about the planet where he lives and about the other planets with their remarkable inhabitants that he visits.

 

“If you please – draw me a sheep!” are the first words of the Little Prince.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is an extraordinary and timeless book about the mystery of love and friendship.
And about how to grow up without losing the child in yourself.

I have serious reason to believe that the planet from which the Little Prince came is the asteroid known as B612. This asteroid had only once been seen through the telescope by a Turkish astronomer, in 1909. On making his discovery, the astronomer had presented it to the International Astronomical Congress, in a great demonstration. He explained his discovery in detail at an International Congress or Astronomy. But he was in Turkish costume, and so nobody would believe what he said. In 1920 the astronomer gave his demonstration all over again, this time dressed in a suit, everybody accepted his report.

Something in my engine was broken and because I had no mechanic and no passengers on board, I had to try to do the difficult repair all by myself. It was a matter of life or death because I only had enough drinking water with me for a few days. After the first night and having spent a long time looking at the stars, I fell asleep in the sand, a thousand miles away from civilization.

One day the little prince saw a blade grow. That was something new. But the plant stopped growing quickly and started working on a flower.
She close her colours with beauty. Yes, she was very vain. Her mysterious manner lasted for days. And finally, one morning, she showed herself.

“It’s a matter of keeping tidy”, said the little prince. “In the morning, once you are dressed, you should carefully clean your planet. And as soon as you can distinguish the baobabs from rose bushes you had to pick them off. It is an annoying but very easy job.
“The little prince looked serious when he said …
Sometimes, postponing your work is not all that bad, but with baobabs and with their rampantly growing roots, that is always a disaster.

Sunset

On the tiny planet of the Little Prince, all you have to do is move your seat to watch the sunset over and over again. The Little Prince looked at the twilight as much as he wished. One day he had seen the sun set forty-three times! “You know”, said the Little Prince, “when you are sad, you enjoy watching the sun set.”

On the first planet the Little Prince visited, there lived a king. He was dressed in purple and ermine and sat on a simple but stately throne. “Ah, here comes a subject”, cried the king when he saw the Little Prince. “How can he recognise me? He had never seen me before”, the Little Prince wondered. He did not you know that for kings, the world was very simple, all people are subjects.

Now the Little Prince visited the smallest planet of them all. There was just enough room for one lantern and a lamplighter. The Little Prince did not fully understand what purpose a lantern and a lamplighter could serve on a planet without a house of any people. Yet he said to himself: that man may be a fool but not as much of a fool as the king. When he lights his lantern, it is as if it were a new flower of a new star. When he extinguishes the lantern, the flower or star falls asleep. It is actually a beautiful and useful activity.

The next planet, the seventh planet that the Little Prince visited was the Earth. Earth is not just any planet. It has hundred eleven kings, seven thousand five hundred eleven lamplighters. It was a beautiful sight from afar. When that army moved about, it was arranged like an opera ballet.

“The Little Prince” is a novella written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, first published in 1943. It is a famous and widely translated work of literature that tells the story of a young prince who travels from planet to planet, meeting various inhabitants and learning important life lessons along the way. The key points of “The Little Prince” include:

  1. Exploration of Imagination and Innocence: The novella begins with the narrator, a pilot, crashing his plane in the Sahara Desert and meeting the Little Prince, a young boy who claims to have come from another planet. Through their conversations, the Little Prince shares his unique perspective on life, which is often innocent and imaginative, leading the narrator to reflect on his own lost sense of wonder and innocence.

  2. Critique of Adult Society: “The Little Prince” is often interpreted as a critique of adult society and its emphasis on materialism, conformity, and societal norms. The author uses various allegorical characters and situations to depict the absurdity and shallowness of adult behavior, highlighting the importance of maintaining childlike curiosity and authenticity.

  3. Lessons on Life and Relationships: As the Little Prince travels from planet to planet, he meets different inhabitants who represent different personality types and life philosophies. Through these encounters, he learns important lessons about friendship, love, sacrifice, and the nature of human existence. The story emphasizes the value of meaningful relationships, empathy, and understanding.

  4. Themes of Loneliness and Longing: The Little Prince often expresses feelings of loneliness and longing throughout his journey, as he searches for answers about life, the nature of existence, and his place in the universe. This theme is explored through the character of the fox, who teaches the Little Prince about the importance of building connections and forming bonds with others.

  5. Symbolism and Allegory: “The Little Prince” is rich in symbolism and allegory. The various planets and characters the Little Prince encounters represent different aspects of human nature and society, and the story often conveys deeper philosophical and existential messages through metaphorical storytelling.

  6. Art and Creativity: The novella also highlights the significance of art and creativity as a means of expressing oneself and connecting with others. The Little Prince is depicted as a budding artist who is passionate about drawing and uses his art to communicate his unique perspective on the world.

  7. Poetic Language and Prose: “The Little Prince” is known for its poetic language and lyrical prose, which contribute to its timeless charm and appeal. The novella is often quoted for its memorable lines and thought-provoking insights about life, love, and human nature.

Overall, “The Little Prince” is a philosophical and allegorical tale that explores important themes such as imagination, innocence, human nature, relationships, and the pursuit of meaning in life. Its enduring popularity has made it a classic work of literature that continues to captivate readers of all ages.

3 MLK Day keynote speaker: Bryan Stevenson, Founder of Equal Justice Initiative

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Stevenson argued a case in Supreme Court in 2012 that banned mandatory life-imprisonment-without-parole sentences for all children 17 or younger. He told stories about perseverance in his life.

 

Gepubliceerd op 2 nov. 2015

 

Oprah asks the attorney Bryan Stevenson some of life’s big questions.Oprah asks the law professor some of life’s big questions. For more on #supersoulsunday, visit http://bit.ly/1tNw5dg 

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4 Bryan A. Stevenson, Johns Hopkins University’s 2018 Commencement Speaker

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Gepubliceerd op 24 mei 2018

Johns Hopkins Universitywide Commencement Ceremony
May 24, 2018
Royal Farms Arena
Commencement Speaker: Bryan Stevenson

Link to Commencement Program PDF: https://commencement.jhu.edu/wp-conte…

More information at: https://commencement.jhu.edu/

More coverage of Johns Hopkins Commencement Week: https://hub.jhu.edu/2018/05/24/commen…

5 Grocery encounter leads to unlikely friendship between 4-year-old and “old person”

18 nov. 2016

In this installment of our series, “A More Perfect Union,” we take a look at an unexpected but powerful friendship. See how an 82-year-old widower was touched by an innocent question of a 4-year-old in the canned food aisle of a grocery store, just when he needed it most. Steve Hartman reports.

6 Enduring friendship that began two years ago spans nearly eight decades

2 jun. 2018

Dan Peterson, 83, met five-year-old Norah Wood in an unlikely place, but the two became fast friends. Today, their friendship is as solid as ever. Steve Hartman has their heartwarming story “On The Road.”

7 Man dies years after young girl’s friendship saved him

6 mrt. 2020

One of Steve Hartman’s favorite stories took a bittersweet turn when Dan Peterson died at 86. “On the Road” tributes a man who overcame his personal grief thanks to a little girl who gave him a reason to smile again.7

8 Fresh paint Prank

4 jan. 2011

 

People are made to believe the bench they are sitting on has been freshly painted.

 
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