The Little Prince

The little prince is one of my favourite books. It is written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery, a French author and first published in 1943. It is the most read and translated book in the French language and has been since translated to more than 250 languages and dialects in the world. Although it is a book for children age 9-12, the little prince introduces several profound ideas about life upon closer review. I have read this book countless times, and each time is a different experience. My takeaway from the first time is different than from the last. 

I would like to highlight a short chapter in the book that presents a concept that I feel most of us as adults have forgotten and should be reminded of. 

Chapter 22

Actual text:

«Ils ne poursuivent rien du tout» dit l’aiguilleur. «Ils dorment là-dedans, ou bien ils baillent. Les enfants seuls écrasent leur nez contre les vitres.» «Les enfants seuls savent ce qu’ils cherchent» fit le petit prince.

Translation:

“They are pursuing nothing at all,” said the switchman. “They are asleep in there, or if they are not asleep they are yawning. Only the children are flattening their noses against the windowpanes.” “Only the children know what they are looking for,” said the little prince.

For those who have never read the little prince, this part of the story happens when the little prince came to visit Earth, and met a railway switchman who changes trains from one track to another. He explains that the trains shuttle people from one location to another. The little prince asked why everybody seems to be in such a hurry, and if people were moving because they were unhappy. The switchman explains nobody knows why people are always in a hurry, and that it was like an exchange and it happens because people are always unhappy with wherever they are. The switchman also said that none of the passengers are pursuing anything at all, and they are all yawning or asleep on the trains. Only the children are looking intently out of the window. The little prince remarks that only the children know what they are looking for. 

When we are constantly in a rush, we lack the time to reflect and to find out where we are in life. Without the opportunity of a break, we cannot tell or decide if we are happy or not. Thus we might be mulling around in circles, not knowing which direction leads to happiness, making contradictory life decisions.

As we grow older, we naturally start to set concrete goals and objectives we want to achieve. They can be to buy a house by 28, to start a family by 30, to be a millionaire by 35. Goals and objectives are important to ensure that we work on the right track, to keep us focused. However very often we lose sight of the journey. It is through this journey that we evolve and change as a person. It is through this journey that we meet new people or strengthen old ties that help us reach our goals. If we are too caught up with just the goals and objectives, and neglect the journey, we will lose ourselves.

It is unrealistic to not have a destination. Life would have no purpose then. But we should retain a little of our childish innocence and pay more attention to the journey to our destination. The destination gives us a purpose in life and the journey provides meaning to our life. Both go hand in hand. The destinations or goals are specific points in our life and are kind of like road signs The actual journey or road is the journey of life itself. Never be too caught up with just the destination and miss the journey. After all, for everyone of us, the ultimate final destination can only be death.

“Life is a journey, not a destination” – Ralph Waldo Emerson