I only want to live in peace, plant potatoes and dream!

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

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.

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

A theatre is the most important sort of house in the world, because that's where people are shown what they could be if they wanted, and what they'd like to be if they dared to and what they really are

All things are so very uncertain, and that's exactly what makes me feel reassured.

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

Lie on the bridge and watch the water flowing past. Or run, or wade through the swamp in your red boots. Or roll yourself up and listen to the rain falling on the roof. It's very easy to enjoy yourself.

Making a journey by night is more wonderful than anything in the world.

It was a particularly good evening to begin a book.

I'll have to calm down a bit. Or else I'll burst with happiness

The hemulen woke up slowly and recognised himself and wished he had been someone he didn't know.

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

But that's how it is when you start wanting to have things. Now, I just look at them, and when I go away I carry them in my head. Then my hands are always free, because I don't have to carry a suitcase.

The thing about God, she thought, is that He usually does help, but not until you've made an effort on your own.

It is still summer, but the summer is no longer alive. It has come to a standstill; nothing withers, and fall is not ready to begin. There are no stars yet, just darkness.

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

Most of the people are homesick anyway, and a little lonely, and they hide themselves in their hair and are turned into flowers.

Someone who eats pancakes and jam can't be so awfully dangerous. You can talk to him.

Smell is important. It reminds a person of all the things he's been through; it is a sheath of memories and security.

Quite, quite,' she thought with a little sigh. 'It's always like this in their adventures. To save and be saved. I wish somebody would write a story sometime about the people who warm up the heroes afterward.

Everything's much too big here,' thought Moominmamma. 'Or perhaps I'm too small.

I need to write down my observations. Even the tiniest ones; they're the most important.

It's funny about paths and rivers," he mused. "You see them go by, and suddenly you feel upset and want to be somewhere else--wherever the path or the river is going, perhaps.

...now and then a giggling trail of mermaids appeared in our wake. We fed them oatmeal.

One must use the night.

He was the owner of the moonlight on the ground, he fell in love with the most beautiful of the trees, he made wreaths of leaves and strung them around his neck.

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.

My bag was as light as my happy-go-lucky heart.

And all you can do is just read," she said. She raised her voice an screamed, "You just read and read and read!" Then she threw herself down on the table and wept.

Why are you in such a rush?" Sophia asked, and her grandmother answered that it was a good idea to do things before you forgot that they had to be done.

A very long time ago, Grandmother had wanted to tell about all the things they did, but no one had bothered to ask. And now she had lost the urge.

For a while she considered being ill, but she changed her mind...

He didn't remember, he didn't worry, he just was.

Om man r arg s r man arg, konstaterade lilla My och skalade sin potatis med t nderna. Man ska vara arg ibland, vartenda knytt har r tt att vara ilsket.

But he thought all the strange words were beautiful, and he had never had a book of his own before.

It was simply that she was only fully alive when she devoted herself to her singular ability to draw, and when she drew she was naturally always alone.

Wise as she was, she realized that people can postpone their rebellious phases until they're eighty-five years old, and she decided to keep an eye on herself.

Some people just shouldn't be disturbed in their inclinations, whether large or small. A reminder can instantly turn enthusiasm into aversion and spoil everything.

They were always doing something. Quietly, without interruption, and with great concentration, they carried on with the hundred-and-one small things that made up their world.

The spirit of adventure sped through his soul on mighty wings.

Moominpappa: "Tell us all that's happening out in the world!" Snufkin: "Fuss and misery." - from "Moomin and Family Life" comic strip

I mean, anyone can let Danger out but the really clever thing is finding somewhere for it to go afterwards.

Hvis man pr ver av alle krefter, til det ytterste, m det ikke v re hensikten som teller mest, teller mer enn hvordan det til slutt gikk?

Isn't it fun when one's friends get exactly what suits them?

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

Sometimes people never saw things clearly until it was too late and they no longer had the strength to start again. Or else they forgot their idea along the way and didn't even realize that they had forgotten

It'd be awful if the world exploded, it's so wonderfully splendid

I am fond of lovely old words like 'locomotive'.

Life is an isle of sorrow, you live today and die tomorrow!