It was the winter of war, in 1939. It felt completely pointless to try to create pictures... I suddenly felt an urge to write down something that was to begin with 'Once upon a time.' Tove Jansson More Quotes by Tove Jansson More Quotes From Tove Jansson It is simply this: do not tire, never lose interest, never grow indifferent—lose your invaluable curiosity and you let yourself die. It's as simple as that. Tove Jansson curiositysimplelife A person can find anything if he takes the time, that is, if he can afford to look. And while he's looking, he's free, and he finds things he never expected. Tove Jansson expectedpersonslooks Maybe my passion is nothing special, but at least it's mine. Tove Jansson my-passionpassionspecial I love borders. August is the border between summer and autumn; it is the most beautiful month I know. Twilight is the border between day and night, and the shore is the border between sea and land. The border is longing: when both have fallen in love but still haven't said anything. The border is to be on the way. It is the way that is the most important thing. Tove Jansson twilightsummerbeautiful There's no need to imagine that you're a wondrous beauty, because that's what you are. Tove Jansson imagine-thatimagineneeds I want your first trip to be with me. I want to show you cities and landscapes and teach you how to look at things in new ways and how to get along in places you don't already know inside out. I want to put some life in you. Tove Jansson landscapecitieslooks Storms probably exist only because after them we can have a sunrise. Tove Jansson sunrisestorm Lie on the bridge and watch the water flowing past. Or run, or wade through the swamp in your red boots. Or roll yourself up and listen to the rain falling on the roof. It's very easy to enjoy yourself. Tove Jansson rainrunninglying There are those who stay at home and those who go away, and it has always been so. Everyone can choose for himself, but he must choose while there is still time and never change his mind. Tove Jansson going-awaymindhome It’s only the sea,’ said Moomintroll. ‘Every wave that dies on the beach sings a little song to a shell. But you mustn’t go inside because it’s a labyrinth and you may never come out again. Tove Jansson seasongbeach All things are so very uncertain, and that's exactly what makes me feel reassured. Tove Jansson uncertainall-thingsfeels Quite, quite,' she thought with a little sigh. 'It's always like this in their adventures. To save and be saved. I wish somebody would write a story sometime about the people who warm up the heroes afterward. Tove Jansson herowritingadventure Anyway, solitary people interest me. There are so many different ways of being solitary.' 'I know just what you mean,' said X. 'I know exactly what you're going to say. Different kinds of solitude. Enforced solitude and voluntary solitude.' 'Quite,' said Viktoria. 'There's no need to go into it further. But when people understand one another without speaking, it can often leave them with very little to talk about, don't you think? Tove Jansson meanpeoplethinking One has to discover everything for oneself. And get over it all alone. Tove Jansson self-relianceover-itall-alone It's funny about love', Sophia said. 'The more you love someone, the less he likes you back.' 'That's very true,' Grandmother observed. 'And so what do you do?' 'You go on loving,' said Sophia threateningly. 'You love harder and harder. Tove Jansson grandmotherlikesgoes-on But that's how it is when you start wanting to have things. Now, I just look at them, and when I go away I carry them in my head. Then my hands are always free, because I don't have to carry a suitcase. Tove Jansson going-awayhandslooks You can't ever be really free if you admire somebody too much. Tove Jansson admiretoo-muchinspirational You must go on a long journey before you can really find out how wonderful home is. Tove Jansson journeyhomelong She started thinking about all the euphemisms for death, all the anxious taboos that had always fascinated her. It was too bad you could never have an intelligent discussion on the subject. People were either too young or too old, or else they didn't have time. Tove Jansson intelligentpeoplethinking ''Just think, never to be glad or disappointed. Never to like anyone and get cross at him and forgive him. Never to sleep or feel cold, never to make a mistake and have a stomach-ache and be cured from it, never to have a birthday party, drink beer, and have a bad conscience... How terrible. Tove Jansson partymistakesleep
