In the square below,’ said the Happy Prince, ‘there stands…
““In the square below,’ said the Happy Prince, ‘there stands a little match-girl. She has let her matches fall in the gutter, and they are all spoiled. Her father will beat her if she does not bring home some money, and she is crying. She has no shoes or stockings, and her little head is bare. Pluck out my other eye, and give it to her, and her father will not beat her.’ ‘I will stay with you one night longer,’ said the Swallow, ‘but I cannot pluck out your eye. You would be quite blind then.’ ‘Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,’ said the Prince, ‘do as I command you.’ So he plucked out the Prince’s other eye, and darted down with it. He swooped past the match-girl, and slipped the jewel into the palm of her hand. ‘What a lovely bit of glass,’ cried the little girl; and she ran home, laughing. Then the Swallow came back to the Prince. ‘You are blind now,’ he said, ‘so I will stay with you always.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A prince sacrifices his own eyes to give a blind girl a jewel, illustrating selfless love and the tragedy of misguided generosity.
In simple terms: He gives his eye to help a girl, but the act is tragic.
Key Takeaway
True compassion respects the dignity of those helped.
Themes
compassion
self‑sacrifice
tragedy
Mood
melancholy
thoughtful
Type
narrative
moralistic
When to use this quote
- charitable giving
- social work
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
altruism
ethical limits
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we help others without imposing our own solutions?
- When does sacrifice become harmful?
A Different Perspective
Blindly giving without considering consequences can cause harm.