Most of the people are homesick anyway, and a little lonely, and they hide themselves in their hair and are turned into flowers.
Tove Jansson, from the book Sculptor’s Daughter.
An island can be dreadful for someone from outside. Everything is complete, and everyone has his obstinate, sure and self-sufficient place. Within their shores, everything functions according to rituals that are as hard as rock from repetition, and at the same time they amble through their days as whimsically and casually as if the world ended at the horizon.
Tove Jansson, from the book The Summer Book.
Everything’s much too big here,’ thought Moominmamma. ‘Or perhaps I’m too small.
Moominmamma, from the book Moominpappa at Sea.
Quite, quite,’ she thought with a little sigh. ‘It’s always like this in their adventures. To save and be saved. I wish somebody would write a story sometime about the people who warm up the heroes afterward.
Too-ticky, from the book Moominland Midwinter.
It’s strange, Moominmamma thought. Strange that people can be sad, and even angry because life is too easy. But that’s the way it is, I suppose. The only thing to do is to start life afresh.
Moominmamma, from the book Moominpappa at Sea.
But that’s how it is when you start wanting to have things. Now, I just look at them, and when I go away I carry them in my head. Then my hands are always free, because I don’t have to carry a suitcase.
Snufkin, from the book Comet in Moominland.
Gathering is peculiar, because you see nothing but what you’re looking for. If you’re picking raspberries, you see only what’s red, and if you’re looking for bones you see only the white. No matter where you go, the only thing you see is bones.
Tove Jansson, from the book The Summer Book.
The quiet transition from autumn to winter is not a bad time at all. It’s a time for protecting and securing things and for making sure you’ve got in as many supplies as you can. It’s nice to gather together everything you possess as close to you as possible, to store up your warmth and your thoughts and burrow yourself into a deep hole inside, a core of safety where you can defend what is important and precious and your very own.
Tove Jansson, from the book Moominvalley in November.
"No dishes to wash today. Perhaps I will never ever have to wash them again."
Moominmamma, from the book Moominsummer Madness.
It was a particularly good evening to begin a book.
Tove Jansson, from the book The Summer Book
Welcome home, Moomin, safe and sound, and welcome, friends! Come gather around!
Moominmamma, from the book The Book About Moomin, Mymble and Little My
But think how lonely the Groke is, since nobody likes her and she doesn’t like anyone either.
Sniff, from the book Finn Family Moomintroll