TO LEON WERTH I ask the children who may read this book to forgive

TO LEON WERTH
I ask the children who may read this book to forgive me for dedicating it to a grown-up. I have a genuine excuse: this grown-up is the best friend I have in the world. I have another excuse: this grown-up understands everything, even books for children. I have a third excuse: this grown-up lives in France, where he is cold and hungry. He needs a lot of consoling. If all these excuses are not enough, I will dedicate the book to the child whom this grown-up used to be, once upon a time. All grown-ups started off as children (though few of them remember). So I hereby correct my dedication:

TO LEON WERTH
WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BOY

- Dedication of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry