The Blue Bird quotes

Once upon a time, a woodcutter and his wife lived in their cottage on the edge of a large and ancient forest.

They had two dear little children who met with a most wonderful adventure.

And now Tylette was going to talk, just like himself! Tylette would be his equal in the new world that was opening before him!

“Oh, there is no justice left on earth!” was his bitter thought. “There is no justice left!”

In the meantime, the Cat, who had begun by washing herself and polishing her claws, calmly put out her paw to the little girl.

Grandad and Granny only shrugged their shoulders:

“How stupid the Living are, when they speak of the Others!”

was all they said.

Poor old Grandad was very much upset and complained lustily:

“Gracious me, how tiresome the Living are, with all their fuss and excitement!”

Tyltyl tried to console him and again promised to come back very often.

Tyltyl tried to console him and again promised to come back very often.

“Come back every day!” said Granny. “It is our only pleasure; and it’s such a treat for us when your thoughts pay us a visit!”

“Goodbye! Goodbye!” cried the brothers and sisters in chorus. “Come back very soon! Bring us some barley sugar!”

For the old blackbird was singing with might and main; and his little yellow eyes sparkled with pleasure as he hopped about his big cage.

“As you look for the Blue Bird, dear Children, accustom yourselves to love the grey birds which you find on your way.”

She nodded her fair head gravely; and it was quite clear that she knew where the Blue Bird was. But life is often full of beautiful mysteries, which we must respect, lest we should destroy them;

Our hero was not prepared to quarrel. He felt very small in the presence of that stately lady. He quickly begged her pardon, as nicely as he could; and very gently asked her leave to look for the Blue Bird in her palace.

“I have never seen him, he is not here!” exclaimed Night, flapping her great wings to frighten the boy.

But, when he insisted and gave no sign of fear, she herself began to dread the diamond, which, by lighting up her darkness, would completely destroy her power;

… Bread that he must go back to his pan to be eaten and Sugar that he was to be cut into small lumps to sweeten Daddy Tyl’s coffee and Mummy Tyl’s syrups, they would have thrown themselves at their benefactor’s feet and begged for mercy.

In fact, they were incapable of appreciating their good luck until they were brought face to face with bad.

Poor things! The Fairy Bérylune, when making them a present of their human life, ought to have thrown in a little wisdom. They were not so much to blame. Of course, they were only following Man’s example. Given the power of speaking, they jabbered;

Poor things! The Fairy Bérylune, when making them a present of their human life, ought to have thrown in a little wisdom. They were not so much to blame. Of course, they were only following Man’s example.

Given the power of speaking, they jabbered; knowing how to judge, they condemned; able to feel, they complained.

They had hearts which increased their sense of fear, without adding to their happiness. As to their brains, which could easily have arranged all the rest, they made so little of them that they had already grown quite rusty;

The Blue Child had never seen anyone cry. He lived in a world where grief did not exist. His surprise was great; and he exclaimed:

“What’s the matter with your eyes?⁠ ⁠… Are they making pearls?”

To him those tears were wonderful things.

“You’re not very big!” said Tyltyl, doing his best to keep from laughing.

“I shall do great things when I am!” retorted the King, in a tone that admitted of no reply.

“And what will you do?” asked Tyltyl.

“And quite right too!” thought Tyltyl, who was full of common-sense and who knew what things are like on earth.

For people always get beatings which they have not deserved; and, when they have done wrong, you may be sure that the punishment will fall on one of their innocent friends.

“I wouldn’t care to be in his place,” said our friend to himself. “I would rather hunt for the Blue Bird, any day!”

they had imagined all sorts of awful things. And now, in the presence of the truth, they saw that all that they had been told was a great big story and that Death does not exist.

They saw that there are no Dead and that Life goes on always, always, but under fresh forms.

The fading rose sheds its pollen, which gives birth to other roses, and its scattered petals scent the air. The fruits come when the blossoms fall from the trees; and the dingy, hairy caterpillar turns into a brilliant butterfly.

The fading rose sheds its pollen, which gives birth to other roses, and its scattered petals scent the air. The fruits come when the blossoms fall from the trees; and the dingy, hairy caterpillar turns into a brilliant butterfly.

Nothing perishes⁠ ⁠… there are only changes.⁠ ⁠…

Beautiful birds circled all round Tyltyl and Mytyl. There were no blue ones among them, but the two Children were so glad of their discovery that they asked for nothing more. Astonished and delighted, they kept on repeating:

and the Dog would have settled all of them, if he had gone on with his rebellion. But Tyltyl threatened him harshly; and, suddenly yielding to his docile instincts, Tylô lay down at his master’s feet.

Thus it is that our finest virtues are treated as faults, when we exercise them without discrimination.

From that moment, the Children were lost. The Ivy gagged and bound the poor Dog, who was then taken behind the Chestnut-tree and tied to his biggest root.

Our friends went back to the Temple of Light to rest after their adventure. Tyltyl, repenting of his disobedience, dared not even mention the Blue Bird of which he had caught a glimpse; and Light said to the Children, gently:

“Let this teach you, dears, that Man is all alone against all in this world. Never forget that.”

“It’s the Blue Bird we were looking for!

We have been miles and miles and miles and he was here all the time!

… He was here, at home! … Oh, but how wonderful! … Mytyl, do you see the bird? What would Light say? … There, Madame Berlingot, take him quickly to your little girl. …”