Jordan Oates's Key Ideas from The Little Prince
by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
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Chapter 1
The narrator, a pilot stranded in the Sahara, reflects on his childhood disillusionment with adults who could not understand his drawings, particularly his drawing of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant. He laments their lack of imagination and their focus on practicality.
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"Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them."
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Chapter 2
The narrator recounts the sudden appearance of the Little Prince in the desert. The Little Prince asks the narrator to draw a sheep, revealing his mysterious origins and his unfamiliarity with the narrator's world
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Chapter 3
The narrator learns more about the Little Prince's home planet, Asteroid B-612, which is so small that one can see all the sunsets one desires by simply moving one's chair. This highlights the vast differences in perspective between the Little Prince and adults.
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"If I command my general to fly from one flower to another like a butterfly, or to write a tragic drama, or to change himself into a sea bird, and if the general does not carry out the order that he has received, which one of us is in the wrong?' the king demanded."
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"So I learned a second very important thing: his planet was scarcely any larger than a house!"
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Chapter 4
The narrator provides more details about Asteroid B-612, including the presence of baobab seeds, which could overrun the tiny planet if not tended to. This introduces the theme of responsibility and the importance of addressing small problems before they become overwhelming.
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"It is a question of discipline. When you've finished your own toilet in the morning, then you must tend the toilet of your planet, just so, with the greatest care."
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Chapter 5
This chapter further emphasizes the danger of the baobabs, using them as a metaphor for negative influences or bad habits that must be uprooted early on. The Little Prince's diligent work on his planet contrasts with the neglect often seen on larger, adult-inhabited planets.
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"'It is a matter of habit,' the little prince said to me later on. 'When one has finished one's toilet in the morning, one must carefully tend to the planet.'"
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Chapter 6
The Little Prince shares more about his life on his planet, including his fascination with sunsets. The fact that he could see so many sunsets on his small planet suggests a sense of loneliness and the need for comfort.
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"On his planet, he said, 'all you had to do was move your chair a few steps. And you saw the day end over and over again.'"
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Chapter 7
The Little Prince reveals the source of his departure from his planet: a troublesome rose. He recounts the rose's vanity and demanding nature, which ultimately led him to seek companionship and understanding elsewhere.
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"'I ought to have judged her according to her actions and not according to her words.'"
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Chapter 8
This chapter elaborates on the Little Prince's relationship with the rose, highlighting his efforts to care for her despite her flaws. It underscores the complexities of love and the difficulty of understanding others, especially when one is young and inexperienced.
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"I ought to have guessed all the affection that lay behind her poor little strategems. Flowers are so inconsistent! But I was too young to know how to love her.'"
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Chapter 9
The Little Prince describes his departure from his planet. He meticulously cleans his volcanoes and waters his rose for the last time, demonstrating his sense of duty and the bittersweet nature of leaving something he cared for.
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Chapter 10
The Little Prince visits the first asteroid, inhabited by a king who loves to give orders but only commands what is reasonable. This satirizes the adult obsession with authority and the emptiness of power without substance.
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"'Ah! Here is a subject,' exclaimed the king, when he saw the little prince coming."
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Chapter 11
The second asteroid is home to a conceited man who only wants to be admired and applauded. This chapter critiques vanity and the self-absorption that prevents genuine connection with others.
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"'I admire you,' said the little prince, shrugging his shoulders slightly, 'but what is there in that to please you so much?'"
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Chapter 12
The Little Prince visits a third asteroid inhabited by a drunkard who drinks to forget that he is ashamed of drinking. This portrays the self-destructive nature of escapism and the illogical cycles people can get trapped in.
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Chapter 13
The fourth asteroid is occupied by a businessman who is constantly counting and "owning" stars, believing it makes him rich. This satirizes the adult obsession with material possessions and the misguided notion of ownership over things that cannot truly be possessed.
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Chapter 14
The fifth asteroid is the smallest and inhabited by a lamplighter who follows an absurdly strict order to light and extinguish his lamp every minute, even though his planet's day has shortened. This highlights the blind adherence to rules without questioning their meaning.
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"'Perhaps this man is absurd. But he is less absurd than the king, the conceited man, the drunkard, and the businessman. For at least his work has some meaning.'"
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Chapter 15
The sixth asteroid is inhabited by a geographer who knows nothing about his own planet because he is too busy recording information from explorers. This satirizes the armchair intellectual who prioritizes abstract knowledge over direct experience.
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Chapter 16
The Little Prince arrives on Earth and is surprised by its size and the lack of people. He encounters a snake, who speaks in riddles and hints at the power of his venom to return one to where they came from.
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Chapter 17
The Little Prince encounters a flower, who tells him that there are only a few men on Earth and that they lack roots, causing them to be blown around. This reinforces the theme of human disconnection and lack of grounding.
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"'Men? I believe there are six or seven of them. I saw them several years ago.'"
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"'But where are they?'"
"'They have no roots, and that makes it very difficult for them.'"
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"'They have no roots, and that makes it very difficult for them.'"
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"'They have no roots, and that makes it very difficult for them.'"
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"'But where are they?'"
"'They have no roots, and that makes it very difficult for them.'"
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Chapter 18
The Little Prince climbs a high mountain, hoping to see the whole planet and find people, but only hears his own echo. This symbolizes the loneliness and lack of genuine connection he experiences on Earth.
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Chapter 19
The Little Prince encounters a garden full of roses, which initially disappoints him because he thought his rose was unique. This leads him to question the value of his rose and his own understanding of her.
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"'You are beautiful, but you are empty,' he went on. 'One could not die for you.'"
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"He felt very unhappy. His flower had told him that she was the only one of her kind in all the universe. And here were five thousand of them, all alike, in one single garden!"
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Chapter 20
The Little Prince meets the fox, who teaches him the meaning of "taming" and the importance of creating bonds of responsibility and affection. This is a pivotal chapter that explores the essence of true connection and the value of what is unseen.
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"'It is an act too often neglected,' said the fox. 'It means to establish ties.'"
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Chapter 21
The fox reveals the secret of what is essential: it is invisible to the eye and can only be seen with the heart. He emphasizes the importance of the time and effort invested in relationships.
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"'It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.'"
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"'Men have forgotten this truth,' said the fox. 'But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.'"
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Chapter 22
The Little Prince meets a railway switchman who explains that people rush from one place to another without knowing what they are looking for. This criticizes the aimless busyness of adults.
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"'They are hurrying along,' said the switchman. 'What are they looking for?'"
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Chapter 23
The Little Prince meets a salesman who sells pills that quench thirst, supposedly saving people time. This satirizes the adult desire for quick fixes and their lack of appreciation for the simple pleasures of life.
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"'It is a great saving of time,' said the salesman. 'With these you save fifty-three minutes in every week.'"
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Chapter 24
As the narrator's plane breaks down, he and the Little Prince are desperate for water. Their shared thirst leads them to appreciate the simple act of finding a well. This emphasizes the value of basic necessities and the beauty found in shared experiences.
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"'What makes the desert beautiful,' said the little prince, 'is that somewhere it hides a well...'"
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Chapter 25
The narrator and the Little Prince find a well, and the narrator realizes the deeper meaning behind the Little Prince's words about the desert. The well symbolizes the essential things in life that are often unseen.
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"'What makes the desert beautiful,' said the little prince, 'is that somewhere it hides a well...'"
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Chapter 26
The Little Prince tells the narrator that he must return to his planet to care for his rose. He discusses his responsibility for her and the bittersweet nature of their parting. He reveals his plan to be bitten by the snake to return.
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"'It will be as if I had a pain a little... almost as if I were dead. It won't be true...'"
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"'You understand... it is too far. I cannot carry this body. It is too heavy.'"
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Chapter 27
The narrator witnesses the Little Prince's departure, describing it as a silent fall. He is left with sadness and the memory of the Little Prince's laughter and the responsibility he now feels for the stars, knowing the Little Prince is somewhere among them. The chapter concludes with the narrator's enduring grief and his plea for anyone who sees the Little Prince to inform him.
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IDEAS CURATED BY
CURATOR'S NOTE
...Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince is a timeless allegory about childhood wonder, love, and human connection. Through the journey of a young prince exploring different planets, the story critiques adult priorities and celebrates imagination and curiosity. With poetic storytelling and profound lessons, it reminds readers to see with their hearts and embrace life’s simple yet powerful truths. A masterpiece of philosophy and self-discovery, it continues to inspire generations...
“
Different Perspectives Curated by Others from The Little Prince
Curious about different takes? Check out our book page to explore multiple unique summaries written by Deepstash curators:
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