The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Why read the book?

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince tells the story of a pilot who crashes in the Sahara and meets a small boy from asteroid B-612. The prince recounts his travels across planets, meeting a king without subjects, a vain man, a drunkard, a businessman, a lamplighter, and a geographer, before arriving on Earth. Through gentle conversations about roses, foxes, and stars, the book explores love, loss, friendship, and what truly matters in life. Written as a children’s tale yet aimed at grown-ups, it is one of the most beloved and translated books in the world.

Favourite quote

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

What I Loved

The Little Prince is pure magic in barely 100 pages. Saint-Exupéry’s simple, poetic prose and his own delicate watercolour illustrations create a dreamlike atmosphere that feels timeless. Each chapter is a small parable: the king who rules nothing, the fox who teaches taming, the rose who breaks the prince’s heart.

Beneath the childlike surface lie profound truths about loneliness, responsibility, and the way adults forget how to see the world. The prince’s quiet sorrow, his love for his flower, and his final sacrifice move me every time I reread it. It never talks down to children and never stops speaking to adults.

Key Takeaway

Grown-ups forget what matters most: love, wonder, and caring for the few things that truly belong to us.