Thursday, February 24, 2005

An Inspiring Thought

On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur.
L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900-1944)
LE PETIT PRINCE (1943), Ch.21




Here are a few different translations (which I happen to be aware of)of the above phrase:

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly;
what is essential is invisible to the eye.

(Tr. by Katherine Woods, 1945)

No se ve bien sino con el corazon.
Lo esencial es invisible a los ojos.

(Tr. by Bonifacio del Carril)

Animo tantum bene cernimus.
Quae plurimi sunt, oculis cerni non possunt.

(Tr. by Augustus Haury)