The Little Prince tells it best. How love and friendship are built with time and patience. Love is not a strategy. There is no shortcut to loving.
Love is not a strategy. It’s a quality of soul, a gift of essence. So are generosity, gratitude and appreciation. – Hiro Boga
Love Is Not A Strategy
Despite all the relationship books out there, I still think that The Little Prince and the fox had the best notion about finding love and friendship.
Do you remember how their friendship started and progressed?
The Little Prince sees the fox and on the first day he sits on the grass a little away from the fox saying nothing. Over the next few days he keeps coming to the same spot at the same time and sits down saying nothing. However, each day he comes a little closer to the fox, who keeps watching him out of the corner of his eye. When Little Prince finally sits right next to the fox, they know each other well and a warm love and genuine friendship has formed.
It’s the fox’s words about their relationship that really touch me.
“For me you’re only a little boy just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you have no need of me, either. For you I’m only a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, we’ll need each other. You’ll be the only boy in the world for me. I’ll be the only fox in the world for you….” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
Isn’t that what true love and friendship are about? We don’t really ‘need’ the other, but we choose to love them, to see their uniqueness, to remind them of who they are meant to be when they forget. And in turn to be loved and recognized as unique and reminded to be true to yourself.
[click_to_tweet tweet=”Isn’t that what true love and friendship are about? We don’t really ‘need’ the other, but we choose to love them, to see their uniqueness, to remind them of who they are meant to be when they forget.” quote=”Isn’t that what true love and friendship are about? We don’t really ‘need’ the other, but we choose to love them, to see their uniqueness, to remind them of who they are meant to be when they forget.”]
If you’ve experienced love and friendship of the kind of the The Little Prince and the fox, then you are truly blessed. I know I am.
Would you like to take part in #MondayMusings?
Here’s how it works:
- Write a post sharing your thoughts with us – happy, sad, philosophical, ‘silly’ even. Make it as personal as possible.
- Use the hashtag #MondayMusings.
- Add your link to the linky below
- Use our #MondayMusings badge to encourage other bloggers join in too.
- Visit and comment on the posts of other bloggers linked here.
- Share the love.
Image Credits: Deviant Art
Discover more from Everyday Gyaan
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
How have I missed this delightful tale?
Thank you for sharing the quote about friendship.
We’re so practical, everything becomes a means to an end–even love!
Oh, Michelle. It’s a classic. You must read it.
Yes, this was written as a reminder to myself not to become cynical about love and friendship.
Of course love is not a strategy but friendship and love often develop out of a ‘need’ as it were isn’t it ? Sometimes to combat loneliness or simply because you need to have some help around in order to exist. Often friendships ar transactional aren’t they ? When the reason to interact ceases to exist , the friendship often withers away
I know what you mean, Sunita. There are those kind of relationships too. But I hope we can all have at least one relationship which like that of the Prince and the fox, where we can truly ‘see’ and be ‘seen’ by the other.
This slim little volume has so much wisdom; and every time I’ve read it, I’ve found something new to ponder! I’m lucky that Abid & I don’t “need” each other, but we choose to love another and build a life together. I’m lucky to have a handful of friends who fall in the same bucket – we don’t “need” to be friends, we just are there for one another through thick and thin.
This classic along with Winnie the Pooh has been the guiding light of my childhood.
You brought back so many memories!
If you’ve found that kind of friendship and love, then you are truly blessed. Friendships – yes I have many that fall into that category now. I still think though that friendships start with a basic need to interact with someone. Without that, there really is no basis to start the friendship.
Blessed I am, Suzy. I understand your point of view, but I’ve found people coming into my life and there doesn’t seem any basis for a friendship and yet we have one!
A deep quote on this beautiful story between the Little Prince and the Fox. So many friendship like this and this unconditional love going beyond human understanding that makes destiny a worthwhile journey to take. I will carry those friendships till the grave. Heartwarming post, Corinne.
True.. Nice tale about friendship. Haven’t heard till now.
Such a sweet reference. Friendship is so special and of course something not to take for granted!
Such a beautiful tale…you brought back some fond memories with this one.Yes, love is in the quiet togetherness more than anything.
Love is sure no strategy or plan. I hadn’t heard of that story but I loved it. It was so beautiful. I am also blessed and I am grateful for that. 🙂