“All grown-ups were once children… but only few of them remember it.”
Chapter 1: The Narrator’s Childhood Drawing
The narrator recalls his childhood drawing of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant, which adults mistake for a hat. Frustrated by their lack of imagination, he abandons his artistic aspirations and becomes a pilot.
Chapter 2: The Little Prince Appears
After crashing his plane in the Sahara Desert, the narrator meets the Little Prince, a mysterious boy who asks him to draw a sheep. The narrator eventually sketches a box, claiming the sheep is inside, which satisfies the Prince.
Chapter 3: The Prince’s Questions
The Little Prince reveals he comes from a tiny asteroid (B-612) and asks probing questions about life on Earth, showing curiosity about grown-ups’ strange behaviors.
Chapter 4: The Prince’s Home
The narrator describes the Prince’s asteroid, emphasizing its small size and the Prince’s need to uproot baobab trees before they grow too large and destroy his world.
Chapter 5: The Baobabs
The Prince explains the danger of neglecting small problems, using baobabs as a metaphor for harmful habits that must be addressed early.
Chapter 6: Sunsets and Loneliness
The Prince shares how he once watched 44 sunsets in one day to cope with sadness, revealing his emotional depth.
Chapter 7: The Rose
The Prince tells of his love for a vain, beautiful rose on his asteroid. Though she tormented him with her demands, he cherished her.
Chapter 8: The Rose’s Vanity
The Prince recounts how the rose’s pride and lies made him leave his planet, though he later regrets not seeing her true fragility.
Chapter 9: The Prince’s Departure
After tidying his asteroid, the Prince migrates with a flock of wild birds, beginning his journey across the universe.
Chapter 10: The King’s Planet
The Prince visits a king who claims to rule all stars but only “commands” what is reasonable, exposing the emptiness of authority.
Chapter 11: The Vain Man’s Planet
On the next planet, a conceited man demands admiration, teaching the Prince how absurd self-importance is.
Chapter 12: The Drunkard’s Planet
The Prince meets a drunkard who drinks to forget his shame, illustrating the cycle of self-destructive behavior.
Chapter 13: The Businessman’s Planet
A businessman counts and “owns” stars, claiming they make him rich. The Prince argues true ownership means responsibility, not possession.
Chapter 14: The Lamplighter’s Planet
The Prince admires a lamplighter who faithfully lights and extinguishes a lamp every minute, calling him the only “sensible” adult for his dedication.
Chapter 15: The Geographer’s Planet
A geographer records eternal things but never explores, revealing how knowledge without experience is hollow.
Chapter 16: Arrival on Earth
The Prince lands in the Sahara, where he meets a snake who speaks in riddles about life and death.
Chapter 17: The Echo and the Roses
Discovering a garden of roses, the Prince feels betrayed, realizing his rose was not unique—until a fox teaches him about true connection.
Chapter 18: The Fox’s Wisdom
The fox explains “taming”—creating bonds that make things unique. The Prince realizes his rose was special because of the time he gave her.
Chapter 19: The Well and the Narrator
As the narrator and Prince search for water, the Prince reflects on the beauty of the desert’s hidden treasures.
Chapter 20: The Prince’s Farewell
The Prince allows the snake to bite him, returning to his asteroid. The narrator is left with the stars as a reminder of their friendship.
Key Ideas
- The importance of seeing with the heart, not just the eyes.
- Love and responsibility make relationships meaningful.
- Grown-ups often prioritize trivial matters over true understanding.
- True beauty and value are invisible but felt deeply.
- Childlike wonder is essential to a meaningful life.
Who should read this book?
- Those seeking a poetic reflection on love and loss.
- Readers who appreciate allegorical tales with philosophical depth.
- Anyone needing a reminder of childhood’s wisdom.