The Little Prince

All grown-ups were children once, but they become more and more unimaginative and realistic as they grow up. To everyone’s sorrow, some grown-ups even forget how to look at things with the heart.

In The Little Prince, the pilot was once an imaginative boy with an innocent heart. He thought of his drawing as a masterpiece and considered that grown-ups might be astonished by it. However, neither were they shocked nor did they complement him. Even worse, they suggest that he abandon painting and focus more on studies. Anyhow, there turned up the little prince, who appreciated his scribbles.Innocence is our best shield; under its shelter, we don’t know what sorrow is and what gloom is. Even a little thing can make us burst into laughter. Happiness permeates our lives and we find pleasure in it. In the little prince’s eyes, the sound that the pulley made when it was working could be a sweet-sounding song while others might consider it noisy.

People nowadays create a cover which is made up of fame, wealth, authority, status and other superficial things. Then, they judge the whole world by it. What they care about are just numbers. Besides, the pace of life nowadays is getting faster and faster. Consequently, people usually ignore the beautiful scenery and the precious moments on their way to success. We live in a world full of marvels, but our narrow mindsets keep us from embracing the infinite beauty life has to offer. We catch all, but lose all.

Furthermore, when the little prince arrived at the fourth planet, the businessman was so busy counting how many stars he owned that he didn’t even have time to raise his head. On the contrary, what really counts to the little prince are his scarf and his rose, which make him warm and amused. The little prince’s world is full of beautiful songs and colorful imagination. There are boundless joy and intriguing things waiting for him every day as he opens his eyes. Yet people nowadays look everywhere for happiness but find life insipid and monotonous. In the movie Forrest Gump, Forrest once said, “There's only so much fortune a man really needs, and the rest is just for showing off.” Grown-ups often count how much wealth they have, and how much prestige they win. Consequently, they usually feel discontent since there are endless fame and wealth for them to pursue.

Ultimately, the little prince had to return to his tiny planet, and so the farewell came. The pilot asked the little prince to stay with him because he couldn’t bear the thought of never hearing his magical laughter again. However, the little prince told him, “The most important thing is what can’t be seen.” For most people, it’s hard to bid farewell to people we love whether they are going to leave us for the time being or for good. Nevertheless, I think I’ve learned how to say goodbye without shedding tears from the little prince. As long as we keep in mind the sweet memory we have with people we love, then they will always be with us no matter how far we are separated. Just like my dear grandpa, who flew to heaven many years ago, I still remember his amiable smile crystally. The image of his smile usually comes into my mind and his simple but eternal words would strike the chord of my heart whenever I encounter frustration.

All good things must come to an end. Nobody is able to live forever and our lifetime is finite. “One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes,” said the little prince. We have to treasure the time to do what is really important and see the things with our heart instead of being deceived by the superficial cover.

With my eyes closed, I let all the plots of this book slip through my mind like slides. I imagine a little fellow with golden hair walking toward me with laughter. Then, I heard the stars laughing in the starry night! With the melody drifting in my head, the enlightenment I’ve got from the little prince would forever echo in my ears.