Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

76 Beautiful Quotes By Hans Christian Andersen, The Author Of The Complete Fairy Tales

Famous As: Danish Author Best Remembered for His Literary Fairy Tales
Born On: April 2, 1805
Died On: August 4, 1875
Born In: Odense, Denmark
Died At Age: 70

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.

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

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

Hans Christian Andersen
When the bird of the heart begins to sing, too often will reason stop up her ears.

When the bird of the heart begins to sing, too often will reason stop up her ears.

Hans Christian Andersen
Where words fail, music speaks.

Where words fail, music speaks.

Hans Christian Andersen
Just living is not enough,

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

Hans Christian Andersen
To travel is to live.

To travel is to live.

Hans Christian Andersen
To move, to breathe, to fly, to float,
To gain all while you give,
To roam the roads of lands remote,
To travel is to live.

To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, To gain all while you give, To roam the roads of lands remote, To travel is to live.

Hans Christian Andersen
Enjoy life. There's plenty of time to be dead.

Enjoy life. There's plenty of time to be dead.

Hans Christian Andersen
Every man's life is a fairy tale, written by God's fingers.

Every man's life is a fairy tale, written by God's fingers.

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

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

Hans Christian Andersen
Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.

Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.

Hans Christian Andersen
She laughed and danced with the thought of death in her heart.

She laughed and danced with the thought of death in her heart.

Hans Christian Andersen
The whole world is a series of miracles, but we're so used to them we call them ordinary things.

The whole world is a series of miracles, but we're so used to them we call them ordinary things.

Hans Christian Andersen
Everything you look at can become a fairy tale and you can get a story from everything you touch.

Everything you look at can become a fairy tale and you can get a story from everything you touch.

Hans Christian Andersen
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.

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.

Hans Christian Andersen
To be of use to the world is the only way to be happy.

To be of use to the world is the only way to be happy.

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

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

Hans Christian Andersen
It doesn't matter if you're born in a duck yard, so long as you are hatched from a swan's egg!

It doesn't matter if you're born in a duck yard, so long as you are hatched from a swan's egg!

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

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

Hans Christian Andersen
Brave soldier, never fear.
Even though your death is near.

Brave soldier, never fear. Even though your death is near.

Hans Christian Andersen
I know what you want. It is very stupid of you, but you shall have your way, and it will bring you to sorrow, my pretty princess. - The sea witch.

I know what you want. It is very stupid of you, but you shall have your way, and it will bring you to sorrow, my pretty princess. - The sea witch.

Hans Christian Andersen
But shouldn't all of us on earth give the best we have to others and offer whatever is in our power?

But shouldn't all of us on earth give the best we have to others and offer whatever is in our power?

Hans Christian Andersen
You are a dreamer, and that is your misfortune.

You are a dreamer, and that is your misfortune.

Hans Christian Andersen
I only appear to be dead.

I only appear to be dead.

Hans Christian Andersen
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.

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.

Hans Christian Andersen
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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

Hans Christian Andersen
Some are created for beauty, and some for use; and there are some which one can do without altogether.

Some are created for beauty, and some for use; and there are some which one can do without altogether.

Hans Christian Andersen
Every man’s life is a fairytale written by God’s hand.

Every man’s life is a fairytale written by God’s hand.

Hans Christian Andersen