Grownups are like that。。。
Fortunately； however； for the reputation of Asteroid B612； a Turkish dictator made a law that his subjects； under pain of death； should change to European costume。 So in 1920 the astronomer gave his demonstration all over again； dressed with impressive style and elegance。 And this time everybody accepted his report。
If I have told you these details about the asteroid； and made a note of its number for you； it is on account of the grownups and their ways。 When you tell them that you have made a new friend； they never ask you any questions about essential matters。 They never say to you； 〃What does his voice sound like？ What games does he love best？ Does he collect butterflies？〃 Instead； they demand： 〃How old is he？ How many brothers has he？ How much does he weigh？ How much money does his father make？〃 Only from these figures do they think they have learned anything about him。
If you were to say to the grownups： 〃I saw a beautiful house made of rosy brick； with geraniums in the windows and doves on the roof；〃 they would not be able to get any idea of that house at all。 You would have to say to them： 〃I saw a house that cost 20；000。〃 Then they would exclaim： 〃Oh； what a pretty house that is！〃
Just so； you might say to them： 〃The proof that the little prince existed is that he was charming； that he laughed； and that he was looking for a sheep。 If anybody wants a sheep； that is a proof that he exists。〃 And what good would it do to tell them that？ They would shrug their shoulders； and treat you like a child。 But if you said to them： 〃The pla he came from is Asteroid B612；〃 then they would be convinced； and leave you in peace from their questions。
They are like that。 One must not hold it against them。 Children should always show great forbearance toward grownup people。
But certainly； for us who understand life； figures are a matter of indifference。 I should have liked to begin this story in the fashion of the fairytales。 I should have like to say： 〃Once upon a time there was a little prince who lived on a pla that was scarcely any bigger than himself； and who had need of a sheep。。。〃
To those who understand life； that would have given a much greater air of truth to my story。
For I do not want any one to read my book carelessly。 I have suffered too much grief in setting down these memories。 Six years have already passed since my friend went away from me； with his sheep。 If I try to describe him here； it is to make sure that I shall not fet him。 To fet a friend is sad。 Not every one has had a friend。 And if I fet him； I may bee like the grownups who are no longer interested in anything but figures。。。
It is for that purpose； again； that I have bought a box of paints and some pencils。 It is hard to take up drawing again at my age； when I have never made any pictures except those of the boa constrictor from the outside and the boa constrictor from the inside； since I was six。 I shall certainly try to make my portraits as true to life as possible。 But I am not at all sure of success。 One drawing goes along all right； and another has no resemblance to its subject。 I make some errors； too； in the littl e prince‘s height： in one place he is too tall and in another too short。 And I feel some doubts about the color of his costume。 So I fumble along as best I can； now good； now bad； and I hope generally fairtomiddling。
In certain more important details I shall make mistakes； also。 But that is something that will not be my fault。 My friend never explained anything to me。 He thought； perhaps； that I was like himself。 But I； alas； do not know how to see sheep through t he walls of boxes。 Perhaps I am a little like the grownups。 I have had to grow old。
＇ Chapter 5 ＇
we are warned as to the dangers of the baobabs
As each day passed I would learn； in our talk； something about the little prince‘s pla； his departure from it； his journey。 The information would e very slowly； as it might chance to fall from his thoughts。 It was in this way that I heard； on the third day； about the catastrophe of the baobabs。
This time； once more； I had the sheep to thank for it。 For the little prince asked me abruptly as if seized by a grave doubt 〃It is true； isn‘t it； that sheep eat little bushes？〃
〃Yes； that is true。〃
〃Ah！ I am glad！〃
I did not understand why it was so important that sheep should eat little bushes。 But the little prince added：
〃Then it follows that they also eat baobabs？〃
I pointed out to the little prince that baobabs were not little bushes； but； on the contrary； trees as big as castles； and that even if he took a whole herd of elephants away with him； the herd would not eat up one single baobab。
The idea of the herd of elephants made the little prince laugh。
〃We would have to put them one on top of the other；〃 he said。
But he made a wise ment：
〃Before they grow so big； the baobabs start out by being little。〃
〃That is strictly correct；〃 I said。 〃But why do you want the sheep to eat the little baobabs？〃
He answered me at once； 〃Oh； e； e！〃； as if he were speaking of something that was selfevident。 And I was obliged to make a great mental effort to solve this problem； without any assistance。
Indeed； as I learned； there were on the pla where the little prince lived as on all plas good plants and bad plants。 In consequence； there were good seeds from good plants； and bad seeds from bad plants。 But seeds are invisible。 They sleep deep in the heart of the earth‘s darkness； until some one among them is seized with the desire to awaken。 Then this little seed will stretch itself and begin timidly at first to push a charming little sprig inoffensively upward toward the sun。 If it is only a sprout of radish or the sprig of a rosebush； one would let it grow wherever it might wish。 But when it is a bad plant； one must destroy it as soon as possible； the very first instant that one recognizes it。
Now there were some terrible seeds on the pla that was the home of the little prince； and these were the seeds of the baobab。 The soil of that pla was infested with them。 A baobab is something you will never； never be able to get rid of if you attend to it too late。 It spreads over the entire pla。 It bores clear through it with its roots。 And if the pla is too small； and the baobabs are too many； they split it in pieces。。。
〃It is a question of discipline；〃 the little prince said to me later on。 〃When you‘ve finished your own toilet in the morning； then it is time to attend to the toilet of your pla； just so； with the greatest care。 You must see to it that you pull up regularly all the baobabs； at the very first moment when they can be distinguished from the rosebushes which they resemble so closely in their earliest youth。 It is very tedious work；〃 the little prince added； 〃but very easy。〃
And one day he said to me： 〃You ought to make a beautiful drawing； so that the children where you live can see exactly how all this is。 That would be very useful to them if they were to travel some day。 Sometimes；〃 he added； 〃there is no harm in putting off a piece of work until another day。 But when it is a matter of baobabs； that always means a catastrophe。 I knew a pla that was inhabited by a lazy man。 He neglected three little bushes。。。〃
So； as the little prince described it to me； I have made a drawing of that pla。 I do not much like to take the tone of a moralist。 But the danger of the baobabs is so little understood； and such considerable risks would be run by anyone who might get lost on an asteroid； that for once I am breaking through my reserve。 〃Children；〃 I say plainly； 〃watch out for the baobabs！〃
My friends； like myself； have been skirting this danger for a long time； without ever knowing it； and so it is for them that I have worked so hard over this drawing。 The lesson which I pass on by this means is worth all the trouble it has cost me。
Perhaps you will ask me； 〃Why are there no other drawing in this book as magnificent and impressive as this drawing of the baobabs？〃
The reply is simple。 I have tried。 But with the others I have not been successful。 When I made the drawing of the baobabs I was carried beyond myself by the inspiring force of urgent necessity。
＇ Chapter 6 ＇
the little prince and the narrator talk about sunsets
Oh； little prince！ Bit by bit I came to understand the secrets of your sad little life。。。 For a long time you had found your only entertainment in the quiet pleasure of looking at the sunset。 I learned that new detail on the morning of the fourth day； when you said to me： 〃I am very fond of sunsets。 e； let us go look at a sunset now。〃
〃But we must wait；〃 I said。
〃Wait？ For what？〃
〃For the sunset。 We must wait until it is time。〃
At first you seemed to be very much surprised。 And then you laughed to yourself。 You said to me：
〃I am always thinking that I am at home！〃
Just so。 Everybody knows that when it is noon in the United States the sun is setting over France。
If you could fly to France in one minute； you could go straight into the sunset； right from noon。 Unfortunately； France is too far away for that。 But on your tiny pla； my little prince； all you need do is move your chair a few steps。 You can see the day end and the twilight falling whenever you like。。。
〃One day；〃 you said to me； 〃I saw the sunset fortyfour 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 fortyfour sunsets？〃
But the little prince made no reply。
＇ Chapter 7 ＇
the narrator learns about the secret of the little prince‘s life
On the fifth day again； as always； it was thanks to the sheep the secret of the little prince‘s life was revealed to me。 Abruptly； without anything to lead up to it； and as if the question had been born of long and silent meditation on his problem； he demanded：
〃A sheep if it eats little bushes； does it eat flowers； too？〃
〃A sheep；〃 I answered； 〃eats anything it finds in its reach。〃
〃Even flowers that have thorns？〃
〃Yes； even flowers that have thorns。〃
〃Then the thorns what use are they？〃
I did not know。 At that moment I was very busy trying to unscrew a bolt that had got stuck in my engine。 I was very much worried； for it was being clear to me that the breakdown of my plane was extremely serious。 And I had so little drinkingwater left that I had to fear for the worst。
〃The thorns what use are they？〃
The little prince never let go of a question； once he had asked it。 As for me； I was upset over that bolt。 And I answered with the first thing that came into my head：
〃The thorns are of no use at all。 Flowers have thorns just for spite！〃
〃Oh！〃
There was a moment of plete silence。 Then the little prince flashed back at me； with a kind of resentfulness：
〃I don‘t believe you！ Flowers are weak creatures。 They are name。 They reassure themselves as best they can。 They believe that their thorns are terrible weapons。。。〃
I did not answer。 At that instant I was saying to myself： 〃If this bolt still won‘t turn； I am going to knock it out with the hammer。〃 Again the little prince disturbed my thoughts。
〃And you actually believe that the flowers〃
〃Oh； no！