Many of you may have heard of the book called, “My Little Prince”. It is a well known classic although most of us may not have read it. I’ve had a copy since I was a child, but I never got passed Chapter One because I was young and foolish back then. Recently though, thanks to , I decided to give the book another try.
Now I can say it’s my favourite fictional book.
This is a very bold statement considering how much I used to read.
It is so good that I am inspired to write about it. I want everyone else to read it.
What makes it so special?
There is so much depth and meaning. The words stay with me even after the book is closed. It’s about life, childhood, and mankind.
I don’t want to tell you what the story is about, but I want to share some of the lessons from the book.
Back in the little Prince’s planet, there were invisible seeds. Some were good, and some were bad. At first, everything looks alright. The baobabs (bad seeds) resemble the rosebushes (good seeds). Therefore, one must check regularly to see what is growing. As soon as a baobab can be recognized, it must be torn out. If you intervene too late, you will never get rid of it. Its roots will spread all over the planet and your planet can explode.
This may seem ridiculous, but it’s a matter of discipline. “Before they grow to such a size, baobabs start out by being small.”
The way I interpret this is that the baobab represents our negative thoughts. We’re constantly surrounded by negativity. We are not aware of the impact it can have on us if we allow it to grow. If we leave it, it can be indestructible.
Personally, I know some people who cannot see the good in anything. They are so negative that all they feel is hate, anger, and sadness. They have allowed their baobabs to multiply and it has consumed their world.
Lesson: It is important that we reflect on our actions and thoughts on a regular basis. If there is an issue that bothers or saddens you, deal with it immediately! Don’t wait.
I want to share one more lesson.
In the book, the Prince tells the narrator the planets he had travelled to. In one of the planets, there was just enough room for a lamppost and a lamplighter. The lamplighter is ordered to light the lamp in the evening and put out the lamp in the morning. However, from year to year, the speed of the planet’s rotation has been increasing. It is now one rotation a minute. The lamplighter does not get to rest at all!
The lamplighter is stressed and overworked. He wants take a break, so the Little Prince suggested,” Your planet is so small that you can walk all around it in three strides. You just have to walk slowly enough to stay always in the sun. When you want to take a rest, you will walk…and the day will last for as long as you like.”
The lamplighter however, responded, “That wouldn’t help me every much. The one thing I like in life is to sleep.”
The lamplighter refused to try out the Little Prince’s suggestion. Yet, by continuing his way, he will never get to sleep anyway!
Lesson: Sometimes, the solution is right in front of us, but we refuse to see it.
There are so many more lessons in this book. I can’t go through all of them because it will take too long, and I’d much rather you read the book for yourself.
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I just want to share a few more quotes from the book that has really impacted me:
“Grown-ups love figures. When you talk to them about a new friend, they never ask questions about essential matters. They never say to you: “What does his voice sound like? What games does he prefer? Does he collect butterflies?” They ask you: “How old is he? How many brothers does he have? How much does he weigh? How much money does his father earn? It is only then that they feel they know him.”
“This water was something entirely different from ordinary nourishment. It was born from the walk under the stars, the singing of the pulley and the effort of my arms. It was good for the heart, like a gift.”
“I shall have to put up with a few caterpillars if I want to see butterflies.”
“It is only with one’s heart that one can see clearly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.”
I sincerely hope you will read the book.
P.S. There are only 109 pages and lots of illustrations!