But certainly, for us who understand life, figures are a matter of indifference. I should have liked to begin this story in the fashion of the fairy-tales. I should have like to say: "Once upon a time there was a little prince who lived on a planet that was scarcely any bigger than himself, and who had need of a sheep..."To those who understand life, that would have given a much greater air of truth to my story.

當然，對我們這些曉得餬口的人來講，我們纔不在乎那些編號呢！我真情願像講童話那樣來開端這個故事，我真想如許開首：“疇前，有一個小王子，他住在一個和他身材差未幾大的星球上，他巴望具有一個朋友……”對曉得餬口的人來講，如許說便能夠顯得更加實在。

On making his discovery, the astronomer had presented it to the International Astronomical Congress, in a great demonstration. But he was in Turkish costume, and so nobody would believe what he said.