154 Quotes by Hans Christian Andersen

Early in the morning, a peasant, who was passing by, saw what had happened. He broke the ice in pieces with his wooden shoe, and carried the duckling home to his wife. The warmth revived the poor.

But he hasn’t got anything on!” the whole town cried out at last.

I never dreamed of such happiness as this, while I was an ugly duckling.

And Kay and Gerda looked in each other’s eyes, and all at once they understood the old hymn: “The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, And angels descend there the children to greet.” There sat the two grown-up persons; grown-up, and yet children; children at least in heart; and it was summer-time; summer, glorious summer!

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.

Superbe! Charmant! exclaimed the ladies; for they all used to chatter French, each one worse than her neighbor.

I can give her no greater power than she has already, said the woman; don’t you see how strong that is? How men and animals are obliged to serve her, and how well she has got through the world, barefooted as she is. She cannot receive any power from me greater than she now has, which consists in her own purity and innocence of heart. If she cannot herself obtain access to the Snow Queen, and remove the glass fragments from little Kay, we can do nothing to help her.

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.

It is only with the heart that one can see clearly, for the most essential things are invisible to the eye.