当你对大人们讲起你的一个新朋友时，他们从来不向你提出实质性的问题。 When you tell them that you have made a new friend, they never ask you any questions about essential matters. 他们从来不讲：“他说话声音如何啊？” They never say to you, "What does his voice sound like?" 他喜爱什么样的游戏啊？他是否收集蝴蝶标本呀？ What games does he love best? Does he collect butterflies? 他们却问你：“他多大年纪呀？弟兄几个呀？” Instead, they demand: "How old is he? How many brothers has he?" 体重多少呀？他父亲挣多少钱呀？ How much does he weigh? How much money does his father make? 他们以为这样才算了解朋友。 Only from these figures do they think they have learned anything about him. 如果你对大人们说：“我看到一幢用玫瑰色的砖盖成的漂亮的房子，它的窗户上有天竺葵，屋顶上还有鸽子…” If you were to say to the grown-ups: "I saw a beautiful house made of rosy brick, with geraniums in the windows and doves on the roof," 他们怎么也想象不出这种房子有多么好。 they would not be able to get any idea of that house at all. 必须对他们说：“我看见了一幢价值十万法郎的房子。” You would have to say to them: "I saw a house that cost $20,000." 那么他们就惊叫道：“多么漂亮的房子啊！” Then they would exclaim: "Oh, what a pretty house that is!" 要是你对他们说：“小王子存在的证据就是他非常漂亮。 Just so, you might say to them: "The proof that the little prince existed is that he was charming." 他笑着，想要一只羊。 that he laughed, and that he was looking for a sheep. 他想要一只小羊，这就证明他的存在。 If anybody wants a sheep, that is a proof that he exists. 告诉他们,将会带来什么好处呢? And what good would it do to tell them that? 他们一定会耸耸肩膀，把你当作孩子看待！ They would shrug their shoulders, and treat you like a child. 但是，如果你对他们说：“小王子来自的星球就是小行星B612”， But if you said to them: "The planet he came from is Asteroid B-612," 那么他们就十分信服，他们就不会提出一大堆问题来和你纠缠。 then they would be convinced, and leave you in peace from their questions. 他们就是这样的。 They are like that. 不要介怀。 One must not hold it against them. 小孩子们对大人们应该宽厚些，不要埋怨他们。 Children should always show great forbearance toward grown-up people. 当然，对我们懂得生活的人来说，我们才不在乎那些编号呢！ 我真愿意象讲神话那样来开始这个故事。 我真想这样说：“从前呀，有一个小王子，他住在一个和他身体差不多大的星球上，他希望有一个朋友…” 对懂得生活的人来说，这样说就显得真实。 我可不喜欢人们轻率地读我的书。 我在讲述这些往事时心情是很难过的。