I have always learned to distinguish the important from the urgent. Antoine de Saint-Exupery More Quotes by Antoine de Saint-Exupery More Quotes From Antoine de Saint-Exupery You become responsible for a long time for what you've tamed. Antoine de Saint-Exupery long-time responsible long The notion of looking on at life has always been hateful to me. What am I if I am not a participant? In order to be, I must participate. Antoine de Saint-Exupery hateful life order A civilization is built on what is required of men, not on that which is provided for them. Antoine de Saint-Exupery progress men civilization Of what worth are convictions that bring not suffering? Antoine de Saint-Exupery conviction belief suffering The soldier's body becomes a stock of accessories that are not his property. Antoine de Saint-Exupery accessories body soldier I don't understand these people anymore, that travel the commuter-trains to their dormitory towns. These people that call themselves human, but, by a pressure they do not feel, are forced to do their work like ants. With what do they fill their time when they are free of work on their silly little Sundays? I am very fortunate in my profession. I feel like a farmer, with the airstrips as my fields. Those that have once tasted this kind of fare will not forget it ever. Not so, my friends? Antoine de Saint-Exupery sunday silly people If France is to be judged, judge her not by the effects of her defeat but by her readiness to sacrifice herself. Antoine de Saint-Exupery sacrifice judging war Vain is the hope of finding pleasure in that which one has hitherto disdained; as when the warrior hopes to find pleasure in the joys of the sedentaries. Antoine de Saint-Exupery warrior pleasure joy Let a man in a garret but burn with enough intensity and he will set fire to the world. Antoine de Saint-Exupery fire men history You're not a man, you're a mushroom! Antoine de Saint-Exupery mushrooms men How is it possible for one to own the stars?" "To whom do they belong?" the businessman retorted, peevishly. "I don't know. To nobody. Antoine de Saint-Exupery businessman stars knows One day," you said to me, "I saw the sunset forty-four times!" And a little later you added: "You know-- one loves the sunset, when one is so sad..." "Were you so sad, then?" I asked, "on the day of the forty-four sunsets?" But the little prince made no reply. Antoine de Saint-Exupery sunset four one-day Grown ups are certainly very strange. Antoine de Saint-Exupery strange He who must travel happily must travel light. Antoine de Saint-Exupery light inspirational travel When one wishes to play the wit, he sometimes wander a little from the truth. Antoine de Saint-Exupery wish play littles We do not pray for immortality, but only not to see our acts and all things stripped suddenly of all their meaning; for then it is the utter emptiness of everything reveals itself. Antoine de Saint-Exupery existentialism emptiness praying No destiny attacks us from outside. But, within him, man bears his fate and there comes a moment when he knows himself vulnerable; and then, as in a vertigo, blunder upon blunder lures him. Antoine de Saint-Exupery fate destiny men If you want to build a boat, do not instruct the men to saw wood, stitch the sails, prepare the tools and organize the work, but make them long for setting sail and travel to distant lands. Antoine de Saint-Exupery leadership work inspiring If a composer suffers from loss of sleep and his sleeplessness induces him to turn out masterpieces, what a profitable loss it is! Antoine de Saint-Exupery suffering loss sleep What did I care about my hammer, about my bolt, about thirst or death? There was, on one star, on one planet, on mine, the Earth, a little prince to be consoled! I took him in my arms. I rocked him. I told him, 'The flower you love is not in danger...I'll draw you a muzzle for your sheep...I'll draw you a fence for your flower...I' I didn't know what to say. How clumsy I felt! I didn't know how to reach him, where to find him...It's so mysterious, the land of tears. Antoine de Saint-Exupery stars flower love-is