Home / Authors / Tove Jansson

Tove Jansson Quotes

Novelist

Tove Jansson, born on August 9, 1914, and died on June 27, 2001, was a renowned Finnish novelist. Her works are known for their unique style and profound emotions, which have won the hearts of readers worldwide.

Filter quotes by topic

All Muumit Moomins People Ifs Littles Hemulen Night Way Fear Grandmother Inspirational Knows Love Muskrat Tove Jansson Beautiful Friendship Life Philosophy Long Muumipappa

Famous Tove Jansson Quotes

“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.”

Ifs Secret Family Ought Spring Surprise

Author: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.”

Ifs Knows Doe Book Wanted Reading Literature Talking Gone Doors Drink Quiet Evening Tea Kitchen Anna Back Doors

Book:The True Deceiver

Source: The True Deceiver

“Gathering is peculiar, because you see nothing but what you're looking for. If you're picking raspberries, you see only what's red, and if you're looking for bones you see only the white. No matter where you go, the only thing you see is bones.”

Ifs Matter White Red Bones Peculiar Gathering Raspberries

Author: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”

People Ifs World Important Wanted House Theatre

Author:Tove Jansson

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

Ifs Inspirational Too Much Admire

Book:Tales from Moominvalley

Source: Tales from Moominvalley

“An island can be dreadful for someone from outside. Everything is complete, and everyone has his obstinate, sure and self-sufficient place. Within their shores, everything functions according to rituals that are as hard as rock from repetition, and at the same time they amble through their days as whimsically and casually as if the world ended at the horizon.”

Ifs World Self Hard Rocks Function Islands Sufficient Horizon Ritual Shore Repetition Self Sufficient Obstinate

Author:Tove Jansson

“I'm not sure I would have ever started to draw, let alone write, if my childhood hadn't been so happy. It was a mixture of comfort and adventure. An excellent mixture!”

Ifs Writing Childhood Adventure Comfort Draws Excellent Not Sure Mixtures

Author:Tove Jansson

“One can't be too dangerous, if they like to eat pancakes. Especially with jam on it.”

Ifs Dangerous Jam Pancakes

Author: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.”

Ifs Looks Persons Expected

Author:Tove Jansson

About the Author

Born: August 9, 1914
Died: June 27, 2001
Known for: Novelist
Quotes: 204

Books & Sources

Finn Family MoomintrollRelated source material

Comet in MoominlandRelated source material

Fair PlayRelated source material

Moominsummer MadnessRelated source material

Tales from MoominvalleyRelated source material

Moominland MidwinterRelated source material

The Summer BookRelated source material

Moominpappa at SeaRelated source material

Moominpappa's MemoirsRelated source material

Moominvalley in NovemberRelated source material

Similar Authors

Neil GaimanBrowse related quotes
Sarah DessenBrowse related quotes
Charles BukowskiBrowse related quotes
Stephen KingBrowse related quotes
Jonathan Safran FoerBrowse related quotes
David LevithanBrowse related quotes
Daniel HandlerBrowse related quotes
Ray BradburyBrowse related quotes
Margaret AtwoodBrowse related quotes
Jeanette WintersonBrowse related quotes