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Being born in a duck yard does not matter, if only you are hatched from a swan’s egg.

Hans Christian Andersen

At first she was overjoyed that he would be with her, but then she recalled that human people could not live under the water, and he could only visit her father’s palace as a dead man.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Dead Father Human Men People
She thought, “He whom I love more than my father or mother, he of whom I am always thinking, and in whose hands I would so willingly trust my lifelong happiness.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Father Happen Mother Winning
Brave soldier, never fear. Even though your death is near.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Brave Brave Soldiers Soldier
Now, if we only had as many casks of butter as there are people here, then I would eat lots of butter!
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Butter Many People
Then she saw a star fall, leaving behind it a bright streak of fire. “Someone is dying,” thought the little girl, for her old grandmother, the only one who had ever loved her, and who was now dead, had told her that when a star falls, a soul was going up to God.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Fall Girl Grandmother Someone Stars
A human life is a story told by God.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Condolences Grief Human Life Sympathy
I have shed pewter tears! It is too melancholy! Rather let me go to the wars and lose arms and legs! It would at least be a change.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Change Legs Tears War
I know what you want. It is very stupid of you, but you shall have your way, and it will bring you to sorrow, my pretty princess. – The sea witch.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Princess Sea Stupid
We haven’t yet got eyes that can gaze into all the splendour that God has created, but we shall get them one day; and that will be the finest fairy tale of all, for we shall be in it ourselves.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Day Eye Fairy One Spiritual Talks
I cannot bear it longer! Now, I know what it is to have a visit from one’s old thoughts, with what they may bring with them! I have had a visit from mine, and you may be sure it is no pleasant thing in the end; I was at last about to jump down from the drawers.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Longer Old Pleasant Sure Thoughts
Well, yes: people write poems when they are in love, but a wise man will not print them.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Men Wise Writing
Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Flower Nature Philosophical
Human beings, on the contrary, have a soul which lives forever, lives after the body has been turned to dust. It rises up through the clear, pure air beyond the glittering stars.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Air Clear Dust Glitter Stars
It was clear to me, as I glanced back over my earlier life, that a loving Providence watched over me, that all was directed for me by a higher power.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Clear Higher Power Providence
Happy domestic life is like a beautiful summer’s evening; the heart is filled with peace; and everything around derives a peculiar glory.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Beautiful Glory Happiness Summer
He looked at the little maiden, and she looked at him; and he felt that he was melting away, but he still managed to keep himself erect, shouldering his gun bravely.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Gun Heart Morning
And the Top spoke no more of his old love; for that dies away when the beloved objects has lain for five years in a roof gutter and got wet through; yes, one does not know her again when one meets her in the dust box.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Dust Gutter Love Spoke Top Years
To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, To gain all while you give, To roam the roads of lands remote, To travel is to live.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Inspirational Moving Travel
It is out of reality that the most peculiar tale of all is born … Some call me the Elder Granny, others – the Dryad, but my real name is Memory. It is I who sits on a tree that keeps on growing, and growing, it is I who reminisces and tells stories.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Memories Names Real
Some are created for beauty, and some for use; and there are some which one can do without altogether.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Altogether Beauty Created Some
Each time I think that the song is ended … something higher and better begins for me.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Higher Song Thinking
There was once a merchant who was so rich that he might have paved the whole street, and a little alley besides, with silver money. But he didn’t do it–he knew better how to use his money than that.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Littles might Money Street Use
Almighty God, thee only have I; thou steerest my fate, I must give myself up to thee! Give me a livelihood! Give me a bride! My blood wants love, as my heart does!
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Blood Fate Heart Street
The sun shines upon good and bad alike.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Bad Good Shining Sun
Well, it’s not so easy to give an answer when you ask a stupid question!
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Answers Giving Stupid
Time is so fleeting that if we do not remember God in our youth, age may find us incapable of thinking of him.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Age Fleeting Thinking
The wiser a man becomes, the more he will read, and those who are wisest read most.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Men Wiser Wisest