This is topic I proclaim tomorrow, April 8, Little Prince Day in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
 
They've finally found the wreckage of the plane flown by French author Antoine de St. Exupéry that went down in the Mediterranean during a mission he flew for the allies in 1944. (story)

I proclaim tomorrow as a new offical Hatrack Holiday - Little Prince Day. We can start celebrating tonight. Share your thoughts on the author who brought us one of the greatest works of our era, Le Petit Prince.
 
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
 
I thought you were talking about the singer.
 
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
 
I saw the musical, with Gene Wilder as the fox, and a Jazz man as the snake, when I was a young woman. Very odd.
 
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
 
I hated that musical. Hated with a passion.

"It's a hat, it's a hat, it's a hat"
 
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
All I really know about that was the cartoon that they showed on Nick when I was a kid. I can't say I ever really got into it.
 
Posted by ak (Member # 90) on :
 
I love that book. I hope never to become too busy with matters of consequence to take a walk to a well, or draw someone a sheep.

He must have been an amazing man.
 
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
 
Spoilers?

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..
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Do I remember correctly that he goes to the snake and lets it kill him in the end?
 
Posted by ak (Member # 90) on :
 
It's how he gets back home. But his body is gone the next day, so perhaps it was not too heavy after all.
 
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
 
I was always very taken with the idea of the fox being tamed. It reminds me of the Olive tree in Jacob 5, the wild and the tame together bearing fruit. I feel the reason we come to earth is to be tamed.
 
Posted by Suneun (Member # 3247) on :
 
I read this book for English class in 7th grade. I read this book for French class in 11th grade. I adore it.

I'm going to share some 'philosophical quotes.' Some are much easier to understand in context, some are fine without the background of the story. There are dozens of such "verites" throughout the book. I can add more, if people want. I didn't add the accents b/c I don't know how to, so I'm sorry if the french looks a little funny in places.

"Il faut bien que je supporte deux ou trois chenille si je veux connaitre les papillons." (pg 40)
(Well, I must endure the presence of two or three caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies.)

"il est bien plus difficile de se juger soi-meme que de juger autrui. si tu reussis a bien te juger, c'est que tu es un veritable sage." (pg 46)
(It is much more difficult to judge oneself than to judge others. If you succeed in judging yourself rightly, then you are indeed a man of true wisdom)

"J'y gagne a cause de la couleur du ble" (pg 86)
(It has done me good because of the color of the wheat fields)

"Il est tres simple: on ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." (pg 87)
(It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eyes)

"On risque de pleurer un peu si l'on s'est laisse apprivoiser" (pg 99)
(One runs the risk of weeping a little, if one lets himself be tamed.)

[ April 07, 2004, 09:43 PM: Message edited by: Suneun ]
 
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
 
[Smile]
 
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
 
Those are great, Suneun! I especially adore the chenilles quote. And of course my favorite catch phrase is: "dessine-moi un mouton" - "draw me a sheep."
 
Posted by Crystal (Member # 5437) on :
 
I like those quotes, Suneun. Last year two students in my French class made a huge painting the size of the classroom wall. It had the Little Prince in the middle and my French teacher's favorite quotes all around it.
 
Posted by Coccinelle (Member # 5832) on :
 
I finished four years of high school French with two accomplishments:
1. Teaching my brother to say: Je suis un poubelle et j'aime les moutons.
(I am a trash can and I love sheep- It was incredibly humerous at the time)

2. A love for Le Petit Prince. My favorite quote is one that Suneun shared "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eyes"

Yay! I'll celebrate tomorrow-- I'll read the story to my class [Smile]
 
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
 
Wasn't this the famed sequel to the Machiavelli classic?
 
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
 
Ha, you thought you killed the thread but it is about to rise from the ashes. Maybe I'll find a copy at the library sale tonight.
 
Posted by Zotto! (Member # 4689) on :
 
"The Little Prince" was a HUGE part of my childhood.

I remember reading the book when I could barely read at all, and thinking "This guy KNOWS what life is about."

*draws a "hat"*

[Smile]
 
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
 
When I got there the library sale was closed. I'm not sure whether to try again tomorrow. [Frown]
 
Posted by Suneun (Member # 3247) on :
 
I'm going to post a few more quotes for people.

"Elles [les grandes personnes] ont toujours besoin d'explications." (pg 4)
(They [the grown-ups] always need to have things explained)

"Enfants! Faites attention aux baobabs!" (pg 23)
(Children! Watch out for the baobabs!)

"Cependant [l'allumeur] c'est le seul qui ne me paraisse pas ridicule. C'est, peut-etre, parce qu'il s'occupe d'autre chose que de soi-meme." pg 61
(Nevertheless, [the lamplighter] he is the only one of them all who does not seem to me ridiculous. Perhaps that is because he is thinking of something else besides himself)
 
Posted by ak (Member # 90) on :
 
I don't have a copy of that book now. Well, I do but it's in Spanish and I can't really read it. (Pedro Conejito is a real challenge at this point.) I'm loving these quotes, though. More, please? [Smile]

I've got to get this book again and read it to someone.
 
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
 
I saw the story about St. Exupery's plane being found also.

I love his book The Little Prince. I own it in English, French, Spanish and Hebrew. [Big Grin]

Also loved the idea of a fox being tamed. [Smile]

**Ela**
 
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
 
Actually I found the new quite sad. I liked the idea of having a mystery about St-Ex's death, cause it was more... Poetic, I guess. But I love The Little Prince. It makes me think about Jonathan Livingstone too. Do you love this book ?

[ April 09, 2004, 04:20 PM: Message edited by: Anna ]
 
Posted by Mike (Member # 55) on :
 
quote:
Wasn't this the famed sequel to the Machiavelli classic?
Don't you mean prequel? [Big Grin]

-----

I have a copy with the French side by side with a Russian translation. It's high on my list of books to read. I'll probably be keeping a dictionary or two handy when I do get to it.
 
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
 
My husband's last name means fox. Now I'm a fox too!
 
Posted by Suneun (Member # 3247) on :
 
Ela, by far my favorite quote (with the background knowledge of the story) is, "J'y gagne a cause de la couleur du ble." which comes from the fox story... The fox was so hurt by the prince leaving, but he was also so happy to have known the little prince. Our lives are enriched by those people who come into our lives, even for the briefest of times.

ak: I'll bring in some more quotes later today or tomorrow morning, hopefully.
 
Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
 
I can't believe I missed Little Prince Day! I just picked that up again a few weeks ago and rediscovered it. [Big Grin] That was one of the very few things I enjoyed reading when I was taking french in high school. Now I'm in a French Lit. class, and I have yet to come across a french work that I enjoy more. [Smile]
 
Posted by Suneun (Member # 3247) on :
 
"Droit devant soi on ne peut pas aller bien loin..." pg 14
(Straight ahead of him, nobody can go very far...)

"C'est tellement mysterieux, le pays des larmes" pg 31
(It is such a secret place, the land of tears)

"Tu deviens responsable pour toujours de ce que tu as apprivoise" pg 88
(You have become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed)
 
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
 
I definitely need to find a copy and read it. I've heard many quotes over the years that rebuilt my impressions apart from seeing the musical.
 
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
 
They used to have St. Ex and the petit prince on the 50-franc note in France. It was da coolest. I was all excited to get one to keep when I went back, but by the time I got the chance to go, it was a month after they instituted the Euro. Sigh. Euros are cool and all, but their paper money isn't nearly as cool as the old francs. Swiss paper money, however, is still cool. Just so you know.
 


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