Quotes from Tove Jansson

This wasn't at all what I wanted to talk about, which is this: How did the rabbits get all covered with flowers?" "Tell them it's a secret. Tell them they don't need to know." "Exactly," said Anna. "You're right. That's the best thing you've said tonight. They don't need to know, and I don't want to know. So there!

she counted out five sweets and put them on a saucer. Then she went and put them on the ledge in the cliff to cheer him up.

You saved us in the nick of time." "Have I saved you?" asked the Hemulen in surprise. "I didn't mean to. I was looking for the caterpillars that were making such a noise down there." (Hemulens are generally a bit slow in grasping an idea, but they are very pleasant if you don't annoy them.)

I mean, something has to go wrong before you know a law is called for. (Hodgkins)

Tro på mig bara. Jag är förskräckligt klok!

Å, Anna Aemelin, det eneste du bryr deg om, er din egen samvittighet, det er den du pleier.

I believe it's a bore to be famous," said the Joxter. "Perhaps it's fun at first, but then I suppose you get used to it, and soon you're sick of it. Like on a merry-go-round.

Hvis man prøver av alle krefter, til det ytterste, må det ikke være hensikten som teller mest, teller mer enn hvordan det til slutt gikk?

Ja, det forstår jeg. En går helst bare ut når en må. Eller når en har lyst. Det er vel best å vente, og kjenne etter.

It was a long time before the Snork came back with the wood. "Well, there you are at last," said his sister. "It took quite a time, said the Snork, "because, of course, I had to find pieces that were all exactly the same length." "Is he always so particular?" asked Snufkin. "He was born like that," said the Snork Maiden.

People carry their loved ones with them. They are forever present, and life is full of easily grasped opportunities to show them one's affection. It costs so little and achieves so much.

When Mats came in the evenings, they would drink tea in the kitchen while reading their books and talking about them. If Katri came in, they were quiet and waited for her to leave. The back door would close, and Katri would have gone. "Does your sister read our books?" Anna wanted to know. "No. She reads literature.

This has completely disturbed my peace," he complained. "A philosopher should be protected against the rude happenings of everyday life." "Never mind," said Moominmamma, consolingly. "You'll soon feel better." "But I do mind," said the Muskrat peevishly. "Never any peace ... " And he mumbled on.

Mats har ingen hemmeligheter. Det er derfor han er så hemmelighetsfull. Ingen må forstyrre ham, han må få være uforstyrret i en forenklet og ren verden.

Such things happen," said Too-ticky

What was it we were so busy with?" "Work, probably. And falling in love - that takes an awful lot of time.

Strange that it will all just go on, we will paint, travel, love, grieve, collect money, buy things, grow old ... whether we want to or not.

That's not true, not grammar, and it doesn't even rhyme properly,' said Snufkin, and the subject was dropped.

You see, I love you as if bewitched, yet at the same time with profound calm, and I'm not afraid of anything life has in store for us.

Of course it [the robe] smelled -- that was part of its charm. Smell is important. It reminds a person of all the things he's been though; it is a sheath of memories and security.

Why aren't people afraid of their dogs? How long can what was once a wild animal deny its wildness?

Sniff lay under his blanket and screamed. "Now it's right over us!" said Moominpappa. And at that moment a giant flash of lighting lit up the island, followed by a rending crash. "That struck something!" said the Snork. It was really a bit too much. The Hemulen sat holding his head. "Trouble! Always trouble!" he muttered.

Lastovi?ky poctia svojou prítomnosÃ…Â¥ou len domy, kde sú ?udia Å¡Å¥astní.

Om je heen komt alles tot rust, elk van ons gaat zijn eigen weg, maar we ontmoetten elkaar weer aan zee bij een kalme zonsondergang.