“Sophia and Grandmother sat down by the shore to discuss the matter further. It was a pretty day, and the sea was running a long, windless swell. It was on days just like this--dog days--that boats went sailing off all by themselves. Large, alien objects made their way in from sea, certain things sank and others rose, milk soured, and dragonflies danced in desperation. Lizards were not afraid. When the moon came up, red spiders mated on uninhabited skerries, where the rock became an unbroken carpet of tiny, ecstatic spiders.” WayLongMadeMatterRunningCertainSeaRocksDogObjectsMoonRedRoseTinyBoatAliensSatGrandmotherShoreMilkNot AfraidSailingDesperationSpidersCarpetEcstaticUnbrokenLizardsSophiaDragonfliesDog Days Author:Tove Jansson
“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?” PeopleThinkingKnowsWayNeedsKindMeanLittlesSaidDifferentInterestSolitudeDifferent WaysDifferent KindsSolitary Author:Tove Jansson
“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.” KnowsWaySaidStillsImportantBeautifulNightSeaLandHavensMonthsSummerImportant ThingsLongingBordersFallenAutumnShoreTwilightAugustDay And Night Author: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.” PeopleWayLife IsEasyStrangeAngryThings To Do Book:Moominpappa at Sea Source: Moominpappa at Sea
“Malander had an idea and was trying to work it out, but it would take him time. Sometimes people never saw things clearly until it was too late and they no longer had the strength to start again. Or else they forgot their idea along the way and didn't even realise that they forgotten.” PeopleWayTryingIdeasSometimesSawsLateForgottenToo LateWorking ItRealising Author:Tove Jansson
“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.” KnowsWayWantFirstsLooksShowsCitiesTeachLandscapeNew Ways Author: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.” PeopleWayYearsBelieveKindLittlesLongNightWhiteAnimalFitQuietSummerSpringShyAutumnRum Book:Moominland Midwinter Source: Moominland Midwinter
“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.” WorldWayLooksWholeLyingNightSleepBehindsWonderfulJourneyAdventureSightShiningDisappearWhole WorldBoatNew LifeLampsHurricanesMastsCoastline Author:Tove Jansson
