--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing that is important usually is…" description: "\"“The thing that is important usually is the thing that is not seen”\" — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_important_the-thing-that-is-important-usually-is-t_416857.png" --- # The thing that is important usually is the thing that is… ![“The thing that is important usually is the thing that is not seen” quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_important_the-thing-that-is-important-usually-is-t_416857.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_important_the-thing-that-is-important-usually-is-t_416857.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_important_the-thing-that-is-important-usually-is-t_416857.png) > ““The thing that is important usually is the thing that is not seen”” [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The most important things are often invisible and cannot be seen with the eyes alone. **In simple terms:** True value is unseen. Key Takeaway Look beyond appearances. Themes love perception essence invisibility Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - relationships - parenting - leadership - spiritual practice Key Concepts literature existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What invisible qualities do you cherish? - How do you recognize unseen value? A Different Perspective Focusing only on visible facts can miss deeper meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life lesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-lesson/) [The-little-prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-little-prince/) ## Related quotes > [The thing that is important is the thing that is not seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/the-thing-that-is-important-is-the-thing-that-is-not-seen/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“For me you're only a little boy just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/for-me-you-re-only-a-little-boy-just-like-a-hundred-thousand-other/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“It is such a mysterious place, the land of tears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/it-is-such-a-mysterious-place-the-land-of-tears/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“No one is ever satisfied where he is…Only the children know what they’re looking for…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/no-one-is-ever-satisfied-where-he-is-only-the-children-know-what-they/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“This is, to me, the loveliest and saddest landscape in the world. It is the same as that on the preceding page, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/this-is-to-me-the-loveliest-and-saddest-landscape-in-the-world-it-is/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“The little prince went back to look at the roses again. "You're not at all like my rose. You're nothing at all yet," he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/the-little-prince-went-back-to-look-at-the-roses-again-you-re-not-at/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“What a queer planet!" he thought. "It is altogether dry, and altogether pointed, and altogether harsh and forbidding. And the people have no imagination.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/what-a-queer-planet-he-thought-it-is-altogether-dry-and-altogether/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“It's all a great mystery. For you, who love the little prince, too. As for me, nothing in the universe can be the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/it-s-all-a-great-mystery-for-you-who-love-the-little-prince-too-as/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“You are beautiful, but you are empty", he went on. "One could not die for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/you-are-beautiful-but-you-are-empty-he-went-on-one-could-not-die-for/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“Supposing I know of a flower that is absolutely unique, that is nowhere to be found except on my planet, and any minute that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/supposing-i-know-of-a-flower-that-is-absolutely-unique-that-is/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“I own a flower myself,” he (The Little Prince) continued, “which I water every day. I own three volcanoes, which I rake out every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/i-own-a-flower-myself-he-the-little-prince-continued-which-i-water/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“One only understands the things that one tames,” said the fox. “Men have no more time to understand anything. They buy things all ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/one-only-understands-the-things-that-one-tames-said-the-fox-men-have/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“That was how the little prince tamed the fox. And when the time was near: "Ah!" the fox said. "I shall weep." "It's your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/that-was-how-the-little-prince-tamed-the-fox-and-when-the-time-was/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [The right thing to do and the hard thing to do are usually the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/the-right-thing-to-do-and-the-hard-thing-to-do-are-usually-the-same/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Death is usually an all-or-nothing thing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/death-is-usually-an-all-or-nothing-thing/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) ## More by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/a-rock-pile-ceases-to-be-a-rock-pile-the-moment-a-single-man/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Treason implies responsibility for something, control over something, influence upon something, knowledge of something. Treason in our time is a proof of genius. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/treason-implies-responsibility-for-something-control-over-something/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/perfection-is-finally-attained-not-when-there-is-no-longer-anything/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“But for fear of disheartening them, we also spoke to them of disappointments and the bitter taste that rest has after a useless action.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/but-for-fear-of-disheartening-them-we-also-spoke-to-them-of/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“If you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-come-at-four-in-the-afternoon-i-ll-begin-to-be-happy-by-three/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Once we are bound together to our brothers by a common good that is outside us, then we can breathe. Experience teaches us that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/once-we-are-bound-together-to-our-brothers-by-a-common-good-that-is/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“The stars are beautiful, because of a flower that cannot be seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/the-stars-are-beautiful-because-of-a-flower-that-cannot-be-seen/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“You are beautiful but you are empty. One could not die for you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/you-are-beautiful-but-you-are-empty-one-could-not-die-for-you/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“And the fox said to the little prince: men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/and-the-fox-said-to-the-little-prince-men-have-forgotten-this-truth/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/and-now-here-is-my-secret-a-very-simple-secret-it-is-only-with-the/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Flying is a man's job and its worries are a man's worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/flying-is-a-man-s-job-and-its-worries-are-a-man-s-worries/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“You are not at all like my rose," he said. "As yet you are nothing. No one has tamed you, and you have tamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/you-are-not-at-all-like-my-rose-he-said-as-yet-you-are-nothing-no-one/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Loneliness is bred of a mind that has grown earth-bound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/loneliness-is-bred-of-a-mind-that-has-grown-earth-bound/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“Stretched out before the fire I looked at the glowing fruit and said to myself that men did not know what an orange was.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/stretched-out-before-the-fire-i-looked-at-the-glowing-fruit-and-said/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) [Explore all 719 Antoine de Saint-Exupéry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) ## More Important quotes > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [Fiscal prudence is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smriti-irani/fiscal-prudence-is-very-important/) [Smriti Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smriti-irani/) > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [If I had learned how to get along in the quotidian world while keeping up the search for the hidden realm, I might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/if-i-had-learned-how-to-get-along-in-the-quotidian-world-while/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [Modeling is more important than the talking we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-williams/modeling-is-more-important-than-the-talking-we-do/) Wayne Williams > [There are more important things to focus on in life than how you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-cho/there-are-more-important-things-to-focus-on-in-life-than-how-you-look/) [Arden Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-cho/) > [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) Browse all 30,993 Important quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The thing that is important usually is the thing that is not seen”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antoine de Saint-Exupéry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/the-thing-that-is-important-usually-is-the-thing-that-is-not-seen/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Important" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/the-thing-that-is-important-usually-is-the-thing-that-is-not-seen/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_important_the-thing-that-is-important-usually-is-t_416857.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_important_the-thing-that-is-important-usually-is-t_416857.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_important_the-thing-that-is-important-usually-is-t_416857.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The thing that is important usually is the thing that is not seen” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Antoine de Saint-Exupéry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The thing that is important usually...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/the-thing-that-is-important-usually-is-the-thing-that-is-not-seen/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/the-thing-that-is-important-usually-is-the-thing-that-is-not-seen/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```