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!

He read the classics, the French and the German among others, but primarily the Russian, which enchanted him with their heavy patience.

Akkurat n tenker jeg p nordlys. Man vet ikke om det finnes eller bare synes. Alt er meget usikkert, og det er nettopp det som beroliger meg.

Pearls' burst out the Snork Maiden excitedly. 'Could ankle rings be made out of pearls?' 'I should think they could,' said Moomintoll. 'Ankle-rings, and nose-rings and ear-rings and engagement rings...

Everyone must imagine his own snakes because no one else's snakes can ever be as awful.

You can't depend on people who just let things happen

Det er sn lyset," sa hun. "Alt blir pent i sn lys.

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.

It takes a long time sometimes," she said, "It can take a terrible long time before things sort themselves out.

Ni vet ju att folk blir osynliga om man skr mmer dom f r ofta...

Fly! ropade muminmamman. Polisen r h r! Hon visste inte vad hennes mumintroll hade gjort men var alldeles s ker p att hon gillade det.

Irrational terror is so hard to deal with.

Mats har ingen hemmeligheter. Det er derfor han er s hemmelighetsfull. Ingen m forstyrre ham, han m f v re uforstyrret i en forenklet og ren verden.

No one can depict desolation who hasn't inhabited desolation and observed it very closely. Things condemned have a terrible beauty.

And that night he couldn't sleep, but lay looking out at the light June night which was full of lonely whisperings and rustlings and the pattering of feet. The air was sweet with the smell of flowers.

He did not confuse what he longed for with his gratitude for what he had. Extreme desires have their own sanctuary.

Before she left, she said, "Just remember one thing: Going along with something doesn't mean you give in to it.[...]

There was so much to talk about that nothing was said. It was warm sitting there on the steps. Everything seemed to be so right.

Even potted plants got to be a responsibility, like everything else you took care of that couldn't make decisions for itself.

My dear child," said Grandmother impatiently, "every human being has to make his own mistakes." She was very tired, and wanted to get home.

Englemos," sa sniff nonchalant. "Bare barnslig t v." I hvert fall for alle som har sett i en stjernekikkert.

Tell them it's a secret. Tell them they don't need to know.

No well-bred person goes ashore on someone else's island when there's no one home. But if they put up a sign, then you do it anyway, because it's a slap in the face

What is right and what is wrong is a very sensitive matter.

You're an idiot," Snufkin said. "Or still worse, you're a story spoiler.

You can’t ever be really free if you admire somebody too much, I know.

Stol p meg, fr ken Aemelin, folk som man kan lure, liker man litt mindre.

Ja, det forst r jeg. En g r helst bare ut n r en m . Eller n r en har lyst. Det er vel best vente, og kjenne etter.

I'm afraid we shall waste an awful lot of time." "Don't worry," answered Snufkin, "we shall have wonderful dreams, and when we wake up it'll be spring.