Tove Jansson Quotes

Quotes about:

• 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.

  Tove Jansson

  Life, Simple, Curiosity

  Tove Jansson (2007). “Fair Play: A Novel”, Sort of

  67 Copy quote

• I love borders. August is the border between summer and autumn; it is the most beautiful month I know. Twilight is the border between day and night, and the shore is the border between sea and land. The border is longing: when both have fallen in love but still haven't said anything. The border is to be on the way. It is the way that is the most important thing.

  Tove Jansson

  Beautiful, Summer, Twilight

  32 Copy quote

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

  Tove Jansson

  Passion, Special, My Passion

  34 Copy quote

• Storms probably exist only because after them we can have a sunrise.

  Tove Jansson

  Sunrise, Storm

  49 Copy quote

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

  Tove Jansson

  Needs, Imagine, Imagine That

  Tove Jansson (2014). “Moominsummer Madness”, p.13, Macmillan

  27 Copy quote

• A person can find anything if he takes the time, that is, if he can afford to look. And while he's looking, he's free, and he finds things he never expected.

  Tove Jansson

  Looks, Expected, Persons

  "Sommarboken". Book by Tove Jansson, 1972.

  41 Copy quote

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

  Tove Jansson

  Uncertain, Feels, All Things

  Tove Jansson (2014). “Moominland Midwinter”, p.19, Macmillan

  19 Copy quote

• 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.

  Tove Jansson

  Running, Lying, Rain

  Tove Jansson (2008). “Moomin Book Three: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip”, Drawn and Quarterly

  25 Copy quote

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

  Tove Jansson

  Self Reliance, All Alone, Over It

  Tove Jansson (2014). “Moominland Midwinter”, p.118, Macmillan

  20 Copy quote

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

  Tove Jansson

  Home, Journey, Long

  Tove Jansson (2014). “Comet in Moominland: Can Moomintroll save his beloved valley?”, p.99, Macmillan

  24 Copy quote

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

  Tove Jansson

  Inspirational, Too Much, Admire

  Tove Jansson (2014). “Tales from Moominvalley”, p.9, Macmillan

  22 Copy quote

• 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.

  Tove Jansson

  Home, Mind, Going Away

  Tove Jansson (2014). “Moominvalley in November”, p.6, Macmillan

  27 Copy quote

• I want your first trip to be with me. I want to show you cities and landscapes and teach you how to look at things in new ways and how to get along in places you don't already know inside out. I want to put some life in you.

  Tove Jansson

  Cities, Looks, Landscape

  24 Copy quote

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

  Tove Jansson

  Heart, Light, Lucky

  Tove Jansson (2006). “A Winter Book: Selected Stories”, Sort of Books

  3 Copy quote

• One summer morning at sunrise a long time ago I met a little girl with a book under her arm. I asked her why she was out so early and she answered that there were too many books and far too little time. And there she was absolutely right.

  Tove Jansson

  Girl, Summer, Morning

  5 Copy quote

• It’s only the sea,’ said Moomintroll. ‘Every wave that dies on the beach sings a little song to a shell. But you mustn’t go inside because it’s a labyrinth and you may never come out again.

  Tove Jansson

  Song, Beach, Sea

  Tove Jansson (2014). “Comet in Moominland: Can Moomintroll save his beloved valley?”, p.132, Macmillan

  31 Copy quote

• 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

  Tove Jansson

  People, House, Important

  18 Copy quote

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

  Tove Jansson

  Jam, Pancakes, Dangerous

  3 Copy quote

• Anyway, solitary people interest me. There are so many different ways of being solitary.' 'I know just what you mean,' said X. 'I know exactly what you're going to say. Different kinds of solitude. Enforced solitude and voluntary solitude.' 'Quite,' said Viktoria. 'There's no need to go into it further. But when people understand one another without speaking, it can often leave them with very little to talk about, don't you think?

  Tove Jansson

  Mean, Thinking, People

  19 Copy quote

• You can't always be friendly. It's impossible, there isn't the time.

  Tove Jansson

  Friendship, Friendly, Impossible

  Tove Jansson (2003). “Tales from Moominvalley”, p.17, Penguin UK

  7 Copy quote

• ‎''Just think, never to be glad or disappointed. Never to like anyone and get cross at him and forgive him. Never to sleep or feel cold, never to make a mistake and have a stomach-ache and be cured from it, never to have a birthday party, drink beer, and have a bad conscience... How terrible.

  Tove Jansson

  Mistake, Party, Sleep

  Tove Jansson (2014). “Tales from Moominvalley”, p.143, Macmillan

  15 Copy quote

• 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.

  Tove Jansson

  Hero, Writing, Adventure

  Tove Jansson (2014). “Moominland Midwinter”, p.122, Macmillan

  26 Copy quote

• 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.

  Tove Jansson

  Hands, Going Away, Looks

  Tove Jansson (2014). “Comet in Moominland: Can Moomintroll save his beloved valley?”, p.51, Macmillan

  10 Copy quote

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

  Tove Jansson

  Dog, Smell, Mute

  Tove Jansson (2012). “The True Deceiver”, p.8, New York Review of Books

  4 Copy quote

• 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.

  Tove Jansson

  Lying, Adventure, Sleep

  3 Copy quote

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