--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once upon a time there was a great queen…" description: "\"“Once upon a time there was a great queen who, having given birth to twin daughters, invited twelve fairies who lived nearby to come and bestow gifts u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/marie-catharine-d-aulnoy-80779_children_once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-great-queen_2460676.jpg" --- # Once upon a time there was a great queen who, having given… ![“Once upon a time there was a great queen who, having given birth to twin daughters, invited twelve fairies who lived nearby to come and bestow gifts upon them, as was the custom in those days. Indeed, it was a very useful custom, for the power of the fairies generally compensated for the…” quote by Marie-Catharine d'Aulnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/marie-catharine-d-aulnoy-80779_children_once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-great-queen_2460676.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/marie-catharine-d-aulnoy-80779_children_once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-great-queen_2460676.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/marie-catharine-d-aulnoy-80779_children_once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-great-queen_2460676.jpg) > ““Once upon a time there was a great queen who, having given birth to twin daughters, invited twelve fairies who lived nearby to come and bestow gifts upon them, as was the custom in those days. Indeed, it was a very useful custom, for the power of the fairies generally compensated for the deficiencies of nature. Sometimes, however, they also spoiled what nature had done its best to make perfect, as we shall soon see. ("Green Serpent")”” [Marie-Catharine d'Aulnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-catharine-d-aulnoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A queen’s reliance on fairy gifts highlights both the benefits and the risks of depending on external magic to fix natural flaws. **In simple terms:** Relying on magic can help but also cause problems. Key Takeaway Balance natural effort with external aid. Themes magic parenthood human nature Mood cautious thoughtful Type narrative moral When to use this quote - raising children - seeking help - making decisions - overcoming reliance on shortcuts Key Concepts fairy tale cautionary mythic Questions to Reflect On - When is it wise to accept help? - Can external aid replace personal responsibility? A Different Perspective Overdependence on magic may diminish personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Fairies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairies/) [Fairies Generally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairies-generally-651282/) [Fairies Lived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairies-lived-651281/) [Fairy tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-tales/) [Given Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given-birth-455697/) [Invited Fairies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invited-fairies-651283/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“When Alice was younger, her father had fashioned a rough mask from evergreen needles and lake grass glued to a rotten shell of pine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-guzeman/when-alice-was-younger-her-father-had-fashioned-a-rough-mask-from/) [Tracy Guzeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-guzeman/) > [I could hear you, talking to the daffodils and tulips, whispering to the fairies that lived inside their petals. 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