Quotes by Hans Christian Andersen

Life is like a beautiful melody, only the lyrics are messed up.

My life will be the best illustration of all my work.

Almighty God, thee only have I; thou steerest my fate, I must give myself up to thee! Give me a livelihood! Give me a bride! My blood wants love, as my heart does!

Death walks faster than the wind and never returns what he has taken.

Then your tail will divide and shrink until it becomes what the people on earth call a pair of shapely legs. But it will hurt; it will feel as if a sharp sword slashed through you. Everyone who sees you will say that you are the most graceful human being they have ever laid eyes on, for you will keep your gliding movement and no dancer will be able to tread as lightly as you. But every step you take will feel as if you were treading upon knife blades so sharp that blood must flow. I am willing to help you, but are you willing to suffer all this?Yes, the little mermaid said in a trembling voice, as she thought of the Prince and of gaining a human soul.

But these are small troubles, people will say. Yes, but they are drops which wear hollows in the rock.

Where words fail, music speaks.

I can give her no greater power than she has already, said the woman; dont you see how strong that is? How men and animals are obliged to serve her, and how well she has got through the world, barefooted as she is. She cannot receive any power from me greater than she now has, which consists in her own purity and innocence of heart. If she cannot herself obtain access to the Snow Queen, and remove the glass fragments from little Kay, we can do nothing to help her.

But a mermaid has no tears, and therefore she suffers so much more.

His own image; no longer a dark, gray bird, ugly and disagreeable to look at, but a graceful and beautiful swan. To be born in a ducks nest, in a farmyard, is of no consequence to a bird, if it is hatched from a swans egg.

He looked at the little maiden, and she looked at him; and he felt that he was melting away, but he still managed to keep himself erect, shouldering his gun bravely. A door was suddenly opened, the draught caught the little dancer and she fluttered like a sylph, straight into the fire, to the soldier, blazed up and was gone! By this time the soldier was reduced to a mere lump, and when the maid took away the ashes next morning she found him, in the shape of a small tin heart. All that was left of the dancer was her spangle, and that was burnt as black as a coal.

Never had she danced so beautifully; the sharp knives cut her feet, but she did not feel it, for the pain in her heart was far greater.

Grant not my prayers, when they are contrary to Thy will, which at all times must be the best. Oh, hear them not;

It doesnt matter if youre born in a duck yard, so long as you are hatched from a swans egg!

Then little Gerda said the Lords Prayer; the cold was so intense that she could see her own breath; it came out of her mouth like smoke. Her breath became thicker and thicker, and took the form of little angels who grew larger and larger as soon as they touched the ground. All had helmets on their heads, and lances and shields in their hands; their numbers increased, and when Gerda had finished her prayer a whole legion stood around her. They trust their lances against the horrible snow-flakes, so that the latter flew into a hundred pieces; and little Gerda went forward safely and cheerfully. The angels stroked her hands and feet, so that she felt the cold less, and she hastened on to the Snow Queens castle.

Life itself is the most wonderful fairytale.

Every mans life is a fairy-tale written by Gods fingers.

Every mans life is a fairy tale written by Gods fingers.

Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.

Travelling expands the mind rarely.