But certainly, for us who understand life, figures are a matter of indifference8. I should have liked to begin this story in the fashion of the fairy-tales. I should have like to say:
当然，对我们这样懂生活的人来说，数字是一个无关紧要的事情。我乐于把这个故事以童话的形式开始。像这样：
"Once upon a time there was a little prince who lived on a planet that was scarcely any bigger than himself, and who had need of a sheep…" To those who understand life, that would have given a much greater air of truth to my story.
“从前，有一个生活在比他本人大不了多少的星球上的小王子，他需要一只羊”对那些懂生活的人说，这样的开头可以让故事的事实有更多的空间。
For I do not want any one to read my book carelessly. I have suffered too much grief in setting down these memories. Six years have already passed since my friend went away from me, with his sheep. If I try to describe him here, it is to make sure that I shall not forget him. To forget a friend is sad. Not every one has had a friend. And if I forget him, I may become like the grown-ups who are no longer interested in anything but figures…
我不想让不认真的人读我的书，在我重置这些记忆时遭受了很多的痛苦。我的好朋友和他的羊已经离开我6年了。当我试图描写他的时候，我肯定我没有忘记他。忘记一位朋友是悲哀的，不是每个人都会有朋友。当我忘记他时，我可能会变成一个只关心数字而不关心其他任何事情的成年人了。
