It looks rather ordinary," said the Snork. "Unless you consider that a top hat is always somewhat extraordinary, of course.

It is simply this: do not tire, never lose interest, never grow indifferent—lose your invaluable curiosity and you let yourself die. It's as simple as that.

Storms probably exist only because after them we can have a sunrise.

A person can find anything if he takes the time, that is, if he can afford to look. And while he's looking, he's free, and he finds things he never expected.

Maybe my passion is nothing special, but at least it's mine.

It’s only the sea,’ said Moomintroll. ‘Every wave that dies on the beach sings a little song to a shell. But you mustn’t go inside because it’s a labyrinth and you may never come out again.

There's no need to imagine that you're a wondrous beauty, because that's what you are.

There are those who stay at home and those who go away, and it has always been so. Everyone can choose for himself, but he must choose while there is still time and never change his mind.

You must go on a long journey before you can really find out how wonderful home is.

You can't ever be really free if you admire somebody too much.

One has to discover everything for oneself. And get over it all alone.

When I want to read a novel, I write one.

In a way, she'd rather trust him and be wrong than deal with the worry of mistrust.

wash off the journey

I came up stairs into the world, for I was born in a cellar.

I'm always throwing out ideas, so it's not creativity, it's just volume.

No other people have a government more worthy of their respect and love or a land so magnificent in extent, so pleasant to look upon, and so full of generous suggestion to enterprise and labor.

Does anybody have a cigarette? I'm looking forward to that first smoke. I've been looking forward to [it] for about 30 years.

A humble man who lives a spiritual life, when he reads the Holy Scriptures, while relate all things to himself and not to others.

Great saints are never wimps.

"You’re different,” he said, touching my face. Of course I was. The man I loved had killed for me. A lot of things became inconsequential after a sacrifice like that.