Tove Jansson Moomin Quotes

#1. There weren't so very many good boxes on this beach," said Sniff. "But I've made a great discovery."
"What was that?" asked Moomintroll, for a discovery (next to Mysterious Paths, Bathing, and Secrets) was what he liked most of all. Sniff paused and then said dramatically:
"A cave!"
"A real cave," asked Moomintroll, "with a hole to creep in through, and rocky walls, and a sandy floor?"
"Everything!" answered Sniff proudly. "A real cave that I found myself."
"That's splendid!" said Moomintroll. "Wonderful news. A cave is much better than a box. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#2. 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. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#3. They never asked, "Were you able to work today?" Maybe they had, twenty or thirty years earlier, but they'd gradually learned not to. There are empty spaces that must be respected - those often long periods when a person can't see the pictures or find the words and needs to be left alone.
When Mari came in, Jonna was on a ladder building shelves in her front hall. Mari knew that when Jonna started putting up shelves she was approaching a period of work. Of course the hall would be far too narrow and cramped, but that was immaterial. The last time, it was shelves in the bedroom and the result had been a series of excellent woodcuts. She glanced into the bathroom as she passed, but Jonna had not yet put printing paper in to soak, not yet. Before Jonna could do her graphic work in peace, she always spent some time printing up sets of earlier, neglected works - a job that had been set aside so she could focus on new ideas. After all, a period of creative grace can be short. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#4. What is right and what is wrong is a very sensitive matter. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#5. It was a long time before the Snork came back with the wood. "Well, there you are at last," said his sister.
"It took quite a time, said the Snork, "because, of course, I had to find pieces that were all exactly the same length."
"Is he always so particular?" asked Snufkin.
"He was born like that," said the Snork Maiden. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#6. Lie on the bridge and watch the water flowing past. Or run, or wade through the swamp in your red boots. Or roll yourself up and listen to the rain falling on the roof. It's very easy to enjoy yourself. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#7. People carry their loved ones with them. They are forever present. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#8. I remember the dog at home, when I was a girl; the one that killed chickens. They tied a dead hen around his neck and he carried it around with him all day until he just lay there unmoving with his eyes shut in a morass of shame. It was cruel. There's nothing so hideously easy as giving someone a bad conscience. #Quote by Tove Jansson

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

#10. Here in the shadow of the firs lay everything the old house had spat out in the course of its life, everything worn out and unnecessary, everything not to be seen. In the darkening winter evening, this landscape was utterly abandoned, a territory that had no meaning for anyone but him. He found it beautiful. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#11. I thought it was another avalanche. This morning it was terrible."
"What was?" asked Sniff.
"The avalanche, of course," answered the Hemulen. "Quite terrible! Rocks the size of houses bouncing about like hail-stones! My best glass jar was broken, and I myself had to move quite quickly to get out of the way."
"I'm afraid we happened to knock a few stones down as we were passing," said Snufkin. "It's so easily done walking on these tracks."
"Do you mean to say it was you who made the avalanche?" said the Hemulen.
"Well
yes
sort of," Snufkin answered.
"I never thought very much of you," said the Hemulen slowly, "and now I think even less. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#12. This wasn't at all what I wanted to talk about, which is this: How did the rabbits get all covered with flowers?"
"Tell them it's a secret. Tell them they don't need to know."
"Exactly," said Anna. "You're right. That's the best thing you've said tonight. They don't need to know, and I don't want to know. So there! #Quote by Tove Jansson

#13. 'I've been doing everything for an awfully long time, and I've seen and lived as hard as I could, and it's been unbelievable, I tell you, unbelievable. But now I have the feeling everything's gliding away from me, and I don't remember, and I don't care, and yet now is right when I need it!'. [pp. 84-85] #Quote by Tove Jansson

#14. Thingumy whispered something again. The Hemulen nodded. "It's a secret," he said. "Thingumy and Bob think the Contents is the most beautiful thing in the world, but the Groke just thinks it's the most expensive."
The Snork nodded many times and wrinkled his forehead. "This is a difficult case," he said. Thingumy and Bob have reasoned correctly, but they have acted wrongly. Right is right. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#15. Alexander was in the grip of a passion for perfection. He was not aware of how closely, how perilously, perfectionism and fanaticism are related. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#16. She could easily have remarked on the heavy skiing weather, or asked how he could even see the road, or complained about the town not getting its ploughs out
anything at all to show interest or pretend to show interest, the way people talk to make things a little more pleasant
but no, not Katri Kling. There she stood squinting through her cigarette smoke, her black hair like a mane shrouding her face as she leaned over the table. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#17. The thing about God, she thought, is that He usually does help, but not until you've made an effort on your own. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#18. There ought to be a big fuss when people move up in the world. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#19. Mummy weighed sweets and nuts so that everyone would get exactly the same amount. During the year, everything is measured roughly, but at Christmas, it has to be absolutely fair. That's why it's such a strenuous time. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#20. The spirit of adventure sped through his soul on mighty wings. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#21. I cannot stress enough the perils of your friends marrying or becoming court inventors. One day you are all a society of outlaws, adventurous comrades and companions who will be pushing off somewhere or other when things become tiresome; you have all the world to choose from, just by looking at the map ... And then, suddenly, they're not interested any more. They want to keep warm. They're afraid of rain. They start collecting big things that can't fit in a rucksack. They talk only of small things. They don't like to make sudden decisions and do something contrariwise. Formerly they hoisted sail; now they carpenter little shelves for porcelain mugs. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#22. I have every respect for your deductions, but you are wrong, completely and absolutely, and without any doubt. – The Muskrat #Quote by Tove Jansson

#23. And that night he couldn't sleep, but lay looking out at the light June night which was full of lonely whisperings and rustlings and the pattering of feet. The air was sweet with the smell of flowers. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#24. Passion. As you can see, I've lived quite a long time, which is to say I've been working for quite a long time, which is the same thing. And you know what? In the whole silly business, the only thing that really matters is passion. It comes and it goes. At first it just comes to you free of charge, and you don't understand, and you waste it. And then it becomes a thing to nurture. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#25. I am the Muskrat," said the wretched creature faintly. "A philosopher, you know. I should just like to point out that your bridge-building activities have completely ruined my house in the river bank, and although ultimately it doesn't matter what happens, I must say even a philosopher does not care for being soaked to the skin. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#26. For if you're not afraid how can you really be brave? #Quote by Tove Jansson

#27. It was a particularly good evening to begin a book. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#28. It's funny about love', Sophia said. 'The more you love someone, the less he likes you back.'
'That's very true,' Grandmother observed. 'And so what do you do?'
'You go on loving,' said Sophia threateningly. 'You love harder and harder. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#29. Thingumy and Bob sighed contentedly and settled down to contemplate the precious stone. They stared in silent rapture at it.
The ruby changed colour all the time. At first it was quite pale, and then suddenly a pink glow would flow over it like sunrise on a snow capped mountain
and then again crimson flames shot out of its heart and it seemed like a great black tulip with stamens on fire. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#30. Now and then a giggling trail of mermaids appeared in our wake. We fed them oatmeal. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#31. Smell is important. It reminds a person of all the things he's been through; it is a sheath of memories and security. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#32. It's nice to have beautiful things that really belong to you. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#33. She put on a white dress and went around all day with roses in her hair and sang hymns. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#34. Irrational terror is so hard to deal with. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#35. You can't depend on people who just let things happen #Quote by Tove Jansson

#36. Nothing is as peaceful as when Christmas is over, when one has been forgiven for everything and can be normal again. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#37. Sniff lay under his blanket and screamed.
"Now it's right over us!" said Moominpappa. And at that moment a giant flash of lighting lit up the island, followed by a rending crash.
"That struck something!" said the Snork.
It was really a bit too much. The Hemulen sat holding his head. "Trouble! Always trouble!" he muttered. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#38. She started thinking about all the euphemisms for death, all the anxious taboos that had always fascinated her. It was too bad you could never have an intelligent discussion on the subject. People were either too young or too old, or else they didn't have time. #Quote by Tove Jansson

#39. I, who see the end of the world every day, and still I'm going on putting my clothes, and taking them off again, and eating and washing-uo the dishes and receiving visits, just as if nothing ever happened! #Quote by Tove Jansson

#40. I wonder if the nursery and the chamber of horrors are as far apart as people think? #Quote by Tove Jansson