Le Petit Prince

Have you read The Little Prince? Written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, it is something that everyone should read at least once. It's so short that there really is no excuse not to read it. My favourite passage is an exquisitely beautiful description of what happens when one establishes ties with others. The little prince is talking to a fox, who asks if the prince wants to tame him:

'No,' said the little prince. 'I am looking for friends. What does "tame" mean?'

'Is is something which is too often forgotten,' said the fox. 'It means to establish ties...'

'"To establish ties"?'

'That's right,' said the fox. 'To me, you are still just a little boy like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you have no need of me, either. To you, I am just a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, we shall need one another. To me, you will be unique. And I will be unique to you'

I have yet to come across another piece of writing which conveys so perfectly what happens when you develop a bond with another person. For me, it captures that wonderful, terrifying feeling when you do allow yourself to establish ties with someone: allowing yourself to need someone else and to be needed by them.

You can buy The Little Prince here, and at such a low price you can't really go wrong!