Finding Beauty in Sadness: A Quote from 'The Little Prince'

Discover the beauty and meaning behind "One loves the sunset when one is so sad" from The Little Prince. Explore the connection between sadness, beauty, and life's lessons through this poignant quote.

⊙ Quote of the Day: Finding Beauty in Sadness

You see, one loves the sunset when one is so sad…

- The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince) : Antoine de Saint-Exupéry-

This is a line from “Chapter 06 - SunSet” in “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who loved the sky and disappeared in it. The sentence suggests that when the Little Prince feels sad, he finds solace in watching the sunset, and it speaks to the idea of finding beauty in sadness. It expresses how emotions affect a person's perspective and experience. When feeling sad, people often attach deeper meaning to moments of natural beauty, especially sunsets. The sunset signals the end of the day but also symbolizes a new beginning, and this dual meaning represents the human tendency to find hope in sadness. In “The Little Prince,” this sentence doesn't just represent sadness, but symbolizes the attitude of finding beauty and comfort in it. In conclusion, this passage has many meanings, including the coexistence of sadness and beauty, the importance of life, and the expression of emotions, and it helps us understand and appreciate life.

Saint-Exupéry fought in World War II and fled to the United States after France's defeat. In the United States, The Little Prince was published in English and French on April 6, 1943, by Reynal & Hitchcock. “Shortly after the publication of The Little Prince, Saint-Exupéry returns to his old squadron stationed in Tunis on July 21, 1943. Saint-Exupéry's aircraft of choice is the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. Saint-Exupéry, now older and flying mostly reconnaissance, is shot down by German planes over Corsica, 100 kilometers north of Bastille, in the Provence region, and crashes into the sea, the last time the 44-year-old Saint-Exupéry will ever see the light of day. 

⊙ The Little Prince Chapter 06 - Sunset

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. Come, 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 planet, 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 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.

Additional resources:

The Beauty in Everyday Moments: Memorable Quotes from Up

Inside Out Quotes: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear

Inside Out 2: Quotes Illustrating Adolescent Emotional Complexity

Rainbows of Hope: Finding Light and Resilience through Adversity

Fyodor Dostoevsky Quotes About Beauty, Happiness And Love In Everyday Life

Motivational Quotes To Inspire You.

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