Look at The Adventure. A boat by night is a wonderful sight. This is the way to start a new life, with a hurricane lamp shining at the top of the mast, and the coastline disappearing behind one as the whole world lies sleeping. Making a journey by night is more wonderful than anything in the world.

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

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.

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.

Dogs are mute and obedient, but they have watched us and know us and can smell how pitiful we are.

It was a particularly good evening to begin a book.

I don't want to hear about them any more. I could vomit on the Moomintrolls.