Tove Jansson Quotes

33 Sourced Quotes

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

Tove Jansson
The lamp sizzled as it burned. It made everything seem close and safe, a little family circle they all knew and trusted. Outside this circle lay everything that was strange and frightening, and the darkness seemed to reach higher and higher and further and further away, right to the end of the world.

Tove Jansson
All men have parties and are pals who never let each other down. A pal can say terrible things which are forgotten the next day. A pal never forgives, he just forgets, and a woman forgives but never forgets. That's how it is. That's why women aren't allowed to have parties. Being forgiven is very unpleasant.

Tove Jansson
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
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
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
You believe it's cold, but if you build yourself a snowhouse it's warm. You think it's white, but at times it looks pink, and another time it's blue. It can be softer than anything, and then again harder than stone. Nothing is certain.

Tove Jansson
Everything's much too big here,' thought Moominmamma. 'Or perhaps I'm too small.

Tove Jansson
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.

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

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

Tove Jansson
One ought to have the right to have a secret and to spring it as a surprise. But if you live inside a family you have neither.

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

Tove Jansson
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.

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

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

Tove Jansson
One makes a trip by day, but by night one sets out on a journey.

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

Tove Jansson
Making a journey by night is more wonderful than anything in the world.

Tove Jansson
And it's a risky thing to talk about one's most secret dreams a bit too early.

Tove Jansson
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.

Tove Jansson
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
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
Most of the people are homesick anyway, and a little lonely, and they hide themselves in their hair and are turned into flowers.

Tove Jansson
There are such a lot of things that have no place in summer and autumn and spring. Everything that's a little shy and a little rum. Some kinds of night animals and people that don't fit in with others and that nobody really believes in. They keep out of the way all the year. And then when everything's quiet and white and the nights are long and most people are asleep—then they appear.

Tove Jansson
It's strange, Moominmamma thought. Strange that people can be sad, and even angry because life is too easy. But that's the way it is, I suppose. The only thing to do is to start life afresh.

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

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

Tove Jansson