It was then that the fox appeared.

Good morning, said the fox.

Good morning, the prince answered politely, looking around but seeing no one.

I am right here, said the voice, under the apple tree.

Who are you? asked the prince. You are very pretty to look at.

I am a fox, said the fox.

Come and play with me, said the prince. I am so unhappy.

I cannot play with you, said the fox. I am not tamed.

What does that mean — tamed?

It is an act too often neglected, said the fox. It means to establish ties.

To establish ties?

Just that, said the fox. To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world.

And the fox explained: One only understands the things that one tames. Men have no more time to understand anything. They buy things already made at the shops. But there is no shop anywhere where one can buy friendship. And so men have no friends any more. If you want a friend, tame me.

What must I do, to tame you? asked the prince.

You must be very patient, said the fox. First you will sit down at a little distance from me — like that — in the grass. I shall look at you out of the corner of my eye, and you will say nothing. Words are the source of misunderstandings. But you will sit a little closer to me, every day.

So the prince tamed the fox. And the hour of his departure drew near.

Ah, said the fox, I shall cry.

It is your own fault, said the prince. I never wished you any sort of harm; but you wanted me to tame you.

Yes, that is so, said the fox.

Then it has done you no good at all!

It has done me good, said the fox, because of the color of the wheat.

And then, as the prince was leaving, the fox told him his secret. It is very simple, he said. It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.

The prince repeated it, so that he would be sure to remember. It is only with the heart that one can see rightly.

You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.