Hans Christian Andersen was an author, poet, novelist, travel writer and playwright from Denmark who lived in the 19th century and is particularly famous for his books on fairy tales that are enjoyed by people of all ages to this day. Andersen started working at the age of 14 as a soprano at the Royal Danish Theatre but when his voice broke, he started writing poems on the advice of a colleague. However, it was as a short story writer that he found fame and success. The short story titled ‘A Journey on Foot from Holmen’s Canal to the East Point of Amager,’ published in 1829 became a runaway success and he followed it up with the ‘Love on St. Nicholas Church Tower’. Andersen, is however, most famous for his books on fairy tales. He wrote two volumes and the famous ones include ‘The Ugly Duckling’, ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’, ‘Thumbelina’, ‘The Snow Queen’, ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘The Wild Swans’ among many others. The fairy tales are now the part of culture in most countries and have been translated into more than 100 languages. Andersen was a deep thinker and an extraordinary writer, who also produced plenty of quotable quotes. Here is a collection of the very best ones.
If you looked down to the bottom of my soul, you would understand fully the source of my longing and – pity me. Even the open, transparent lake has its unknown depths, which no divers know.
They could see she was a real Princess and no question about it, now that she had felt one pea all the way through twenty mattresses and twenty more feather beds. Nobody but a Princess could be so delicate.
Hans Christian Andersen
Travelling expands the mind rarely.
Hans Christian Andersen
At first she was overjoyed that he would be with her, but then she recalled that human people could not live under the water, and he could only visit her father's palace as a dead man.
Hans Christian Andersen
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!