--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I cannot stress enough the perils of your…" description: "\"“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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/tove-jansson-1846_big-things_i-cannot-stress-enough-the-perils-of-you_148467.jpg" --- # I cannot stress enough the perils of your friends marrying… ![“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…” quote by Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/tove-jansson-1846_big-things_i-cannot-stress-enough-the-perils-of-you_148467.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/tove-jansson-1846_big-things_i-cannot-stress-enough-the-perils-of-you_148467.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/tove-jansson-1846_big-things_i-cannot-stress-enough-the-perils-of-you_148467.jpg) > ““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 more. They want to keep warm. They’re afraid of rain. They start collecting big things that can’t fit in a rucksack. They talk only of small things. They don’t like to make sudden decisions and do something contrariwise. Formerly they hoisted sail; now they carpenter little shelves for porcelain mugs.”” [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Friendships evolve; adventurous spirits may settle into comfort, losing spontaneity. **In simple terms:** Friends can become more cautious over time. Key Takeaway Stay open to adventure and avoid complacency. Themes friendship adventure comfort zones Mood nostalgic thoughtful Type reflective observational When to use this quote - long‑term relationships - career changes - personal growth Key Concepts sociology life stages Questions to Reflect On - What comforts you more than adventure? - How can you rekindle spontaneity? A Different Perspective People may resist change due to fear of uncertainty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-things/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Inventors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventors/) [Small things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-things/) ## Related quotes > [ I don't know if I know anyone, with the exception of the early inventors of rock music \[who wasn't influenced by something\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-don-t-know-if-i-know-anyone-with-the-exception-of-the-early/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [We are called the nation of inventors. And we are. We could still claim that title and wear its loftiest honors if we had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/we-are-called-the-nation-of-inventors-and-we-are-we-could-still-claim/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [What the history of aviation has brought in the 20th century should inspire us to be inventors and explorers ourselves in the new century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-piccard/what-the-history-of-aviation-has-brought-in-the-20th-century-should/) [Bertrand Piccard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-piccard/) > [The men who made the Industrial Revolution are usually pictured as hardfaced businessmen with no other motive than self-interest. That is certainly wrong. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bronowski/the-men-who-made-the-industrial-revolution-are-usually-pictured-as/) [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) > [“So many people think that they are not gifted because they don’t have an obvious talent that people can recognize because it doesn’t fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/so-many-people-think-that-they-are-not-gifted-because-they-don-t-have/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I don't think we use television the way we should or the way the inventors intended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-mcdonough/i-don-t-think-we-use-television-the-way-we-should-or-the-way-the/) [Will McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-mcdonough/) > [These inventors were elevating the formulation of entrepreneurial ideas to the status of a visionary activity. Though forced to justify their efforts in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/these-inventors-were-elevating-the-formulation-of-entrepreneurial/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Accident is the name of the greatest of all inventors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/accident-is-the-name-of-the-greatest-of-all-inventors/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I think that the inventors can do anything they want, and nobody can say anything otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-newsted/i-think-that-the-inventors-can-do-anything-they-want-and-nobody-can/) [Jason Newsted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-newsted/) > [“Inventors are honorable not because they make a difference, but because they want to make a difference against all odds”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalyan-c-kankanala/inventors-are-honorable-not-because-they-make-a-difference-but/) [Kalyan C. Kankanala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalyan-c-kankanala/) > [“The great inventions would have not become a reality if their inventors listened to criticism or paid attention to people who tried to hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taskinsoy/the-great-inventions-would-have-not-become-a-reality-if-their/) [JOHN TASKINSOY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taskinsoy/) > [I hope you're as lucky as I am. The world needs inventors--great ones. You can be one. If you love what you do and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-wozniak/i-hope-you-re-as-lucky-as-i-am-the-world-needs-inventors-great-ones/) [Steve Wozniak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-wozniak/) > [Inventors don't have time for married life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/inventors-don-t-have-time-for-married-life/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [Work outside of school hours was a necessity at an early age, and with such time as I had I turned toward interests of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-carlson/work-outside-of-school-hours-was-a-necessity-at-an-early-age-and-with/) Chester Carlson > [“Creativity enhances all senses. But the best part is that one gets to tap into their sixth sense as well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitta-xinindlu/creativity-enhances-all-senses-but-the-best-part-is-that-one-gets-to/) [Mitta Xinindlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitta-xinindlu/) ## More by Tove Jansson > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/the-star-we-re-looking-for-isn-t-so-very-friendly-said-moomintroll/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [It looks rather ordinary," said the Snork. "Unless you consider that a top hat is always somewhat extraordinary, of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/it-looks-rather-ordinary-said-the-snork-unless-you-consider-that-a/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/but-moominpappa-wasn-t-listening-because-just-at-that-moment-he-had/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [Everyone must imagine his own snakes because no one else's snakes can ever be as awful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/everyone-must-imagine-his-own-snakes-because-no-one-else-s-snakes-can/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [All men have parties and are pals who never let each other down. A pal can say terrible things which are forgotten the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/all-men-have-parties-and-are-pals-who-never-let-each-other-down-a-pal/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [Someone who eats pancakes and jam can't be so awfully dangerous. You can talk to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/someone-who-eats-pancakes-and-jam-can-t-be-so-awfully-dangerous-you/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [It's risky to talk about one's most secret dreams a bit too early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/it-s-risky-to-talk-about-one-s-most-secret-dreams-a-bit-too-early/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [“Sophia," she said, "this is really not something to argue about. You can see for yourself that life is hard enough without being punished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/sophia-she-said-this-is-really-not-something-to-argue-about-you-can/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/before-we-left-grandmother-talked-a-lot-about-the-arctic-night-we/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [It is still summer, but the summer is no longer alive. It has come to a standstill; nothing withers, and fall is not ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/it-is-still-summer-but-the-summer-is-no-longer-alive-it-has-come-to-a/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [“It'd be awful if the world exploded, it's so wonderfully splendid”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/it-d-be-awful-if-the-world-exploded-it-s-so-wonderfully-splendid/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [“Grandmother walked up over the bare granite and thought about birds in general. It seemed to her no other creature had the same dramatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/grandmother-walked-up-over-the-bare-granite-and-thought-about-birds/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [But he thought all the strange words were beautiful, and he had never had a book of his own before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/but-he-thought-all-the-strange-words-were-beautiful-and-he-had-never/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [“I can dive", Sophia said. "Do you know what it feels like when you dive?" Of course I do," her grandmother said. "You let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-can-dive-sophia-said-do-you-know-what-it-feels-like-when-you-dive/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) [Explore all 159 Tove Jansson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) ## More Big things quotes > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [I want my squad to be confident, ambitious. They have to believe in big things and we have to set targets internally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/i-want-my-squad-to-be-confident-ambitious-they-have-to-believe-in-big/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [Little things make the difference. Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only the winners perfect the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/little-things-make-the-difference-everyone-is-well-prepared-in-the/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [I would not have lasted a minute, literally a minute, on this Earth without God and angels by my side, because I was born.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mattie-stepanek/i-would-not-have-lasted-a-minute-literally-a-minute-on-this-earth/) [Mattie Stepanek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mattie-stepanek/) > [The larger an English industry was, the more likely it was to go bankrupt, because the English were not naturally corporate people; they disliked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-larger-an-english-industry-was-the-more-likely-it-was-to-go/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [It's silly to have as one's sole object in life just making money, accumulating wealth. I work because I enjoy what I'm doing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/it-s-silly-to-have-as-one-s-sole-object-in-life-just-making-money/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-dale-bell/show-me-a-man-who-cannot-bother-to-do-little-things-and-i-ll-show-you/) Lawrence Dale Bell > [ITS FUNNY HOW YOU CAN MAKE SILENT HAPPINESS TO OTHER PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR NONE SENSE ACTIONS. BECAUSE SOMETHINGS IT MAYBE LITTLE AS WE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-voice/its-funny-how-you-can-make-silent-happiness-to-other-people-out-of/) NO VOICE > [The little things, I can obey. But the big things - how we think, what we value - those you must choose yourself. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morrie-schwartz/the-little-things-i-can-obey-but-the-big-things-how-we-think-what-we/) [Morrie Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morrie-schwartz/) > [The little things are being early to meetings and lifts, stretching and warming up - doing all these things consistently, the walk-throughs that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-herbert/the-little-things-are-being-early-to-meetings-and-lifts-stretching/) [Justin Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-herbert/) > [I promise you this: at the end of your days, you will discover that the things you now perceive to be the big things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/i-promise-you-this-at-the-end-of-your-days-you-will-discover-that-the/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [“He wanted me to understand two big things: First, that nobody, no group, is above others. Public servants are obliged to level with everybody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/he-wanted-me-to-understand-two-big-things-first-that-nobody-no-group/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“When it comes to big things in life, there are no accidents. Everything happens for a reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/when-it-comes-to-big-things-in-life-there-are-no-accidents-everything/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [President Barack Obama is a doer. And we in America will do big things with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hunt/president-barack-obama-is-a-doer-and-we-in-america-will-do-big-things/) [Jim Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hunt/) > [There are experts in little things but there are no experts in big things. There are experts in this fact and that fact but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/there-are-experts-in-little-things-but-there-are-no-experts-in-big/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) [Browse all 748 Big things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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 more. They want to keep warm. They’re afraid of rain. They start collecting big things that can’t fit in a rucksack. They talk only of small things. They don’t like to make sudden decisions and do something contrariwise. 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