It was the winter of war, in 1939. It felt completely pointless to try to create pictures... I suddenly felt an urge to write down something that was to begin with 'Once upon a time.' — Tove Jansson Copy Share Image
I'm not sure I would have ever started to draw, let alone write, if my childhood hadn't been so happy. It was a mixture… — Tove Jansson Copy Share Image
“The star we're looking for isn't so very friendly," said Moomintroll. "Quite the contrary, in fact." "What did you say?" said Sniff. Moomintroll went a bit red. "I mean -- stars in general," he said, "big and small, friendly and unfriendly, and so on." "Can they be unfriendly?" asked Snufkin. "Yes -- ones with tails," answered Moomintroll. "Comets." At last… — Tove Jansson Copy Share
It looks rather ordinary," said the Snork. "Unless you consider that a top hat is always somewhat extraordinary, of course. — Tove Jansson Copy Share Image
“But Moominpappa wasn't listening, because just at that moment he had got the right grip on a big round boulder, and with a great… — Tove Jansson Copy Share Image
Everyone must imagine his own snakes because no one else's snakes can ever be as awful. — Tove Jansson Copy Share Image
All men have parties and are pals who never let each other down. A pal can say terrible things which are forgotten the next… — Tove Jansson Copy Share Image
Someone who eats pancakes and jam can't be so awfully dangerous. You can talk to him. — Tove Jansson Copy Share Image
“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… — Tove Jansson Copy Share
“Sophia," she said, "this is really not something to argue about. You can see for yourself that life is hard enough without being punished for it afterwards. We get comfort when we die, that's the whole idea." "It's not hard at all!" Sophia shouted. "And what are you going to do about the Devil, then? He lives in Hell!" For… — Tove Jansson Copy Share
Before we left, Grandmother talked a lot about the arctic night we would fly through. 'Isn't it a mystical word, "arctic"? Pure and quite… — Tove Jansson Copy Share Image
It is still summer, but the summer is no longer alive. It has come to a standstill; nothing withers, and fall is not ready… — Tove Jansson Copy Share Image
