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.

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.

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.

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

One can't be too dangerous, if they like to eat pancakes. Especially with jam on it.

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

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