The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint Exupéry

I wanted to start my short review series about the books I've read with The Little Prince. I think the life lessons it offers have deeply influenced me. 😊

There is probably no one who hasn’t heard of The Little Prince, but there might still be some who haven’t read it yet. Before giving a brief summary, I would like to share a few details about the author.

Photo: Pelin Yüce

Antoine de Saint Exupéry was born in Lyon, France, as the third child in a family of five. The author lost his father at a young age and was not very successful in his education. However, he was introduced to airplanes at the age of 12 and later received pilot training in Strasbourg. After his military service, he began working and writing at the same time.

Now, let's talk about The Little Prince...

This book, considered a literary masterpiece, was written by Antoine de Saint Exupéry in 1943. The Little Prince, which is rich in both philosophical and literary aspects, has been translated into 300 languages. Although it appears to be a children's story, it actually offers important life lessons for adults. The protagonist of this book, which reflects the author's own life, is a pilot. The entire story is narrated by this pilot.

The Little Prince lives on his small planet with a rose he loves dearly and three small volcanoes. Since he cannot get along well with his flower, he decides one day to leave his planet. During his journey, The Little Prince visits Earth, where he meets a pilot who has crashed his plane in the Sahara Desert. He converses with various characters, such as a fox and a king. Through the characters he encounters on the planets he visits, he shows how people miss the meaning of life due to their weaknesses and pride. The story emphasizes the importance of spiritual values over material aspects of life.

In the book, the author evaluates the complex world of adults through the pure perspective of children. In other words, we can say that the book offers profound life lessons with simple language.

Photo: Pelin Yüce

This book, which has captured the hearts of millions since its publication, has probably been read by many of you more than once, just like me. I try to read it every time it comes to my mind, to be honest. After reading this review, I am sure you will want to read it again as well.

So, without further ado, here are a few quotes from The Little Prince that prompt us to reflect on life and help us grow:

"Then you shall judge yourself," the king said.

"That is the hardest thing of all. It is much harder to judge oneself than to judge others. If you succeed in judging yourself rightly, then you are indeed a man of true wisdom."

"The people where you live," the Little Prince said, "grow five thousand roses in one garden... yet they don't find what they're looking for."

"Yes, they don't find it," I replied.

"And yet what they're looking for could be found in a single rose, or a little water."

"Yes, that is true," I said.

The Little Prince added:

"But eyes are blind. One must look with the heart..."

I believe everyone needs a bedside book they can turn to when their heart feels weary, and that book should be The Little Prince...

Yolda Bir Kalem, leaving a mark on every journey…