<P> After the outbreak of the Second World War, Saint - Exupéry escaped to North America . Despite personal upheavals and failing health, he produced almost half of the writings for which he would be remembered, including a tender tale of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss, in the form of a young prince visiting Earth . An earlier memoir by the author had recounted his aviation experiences in the Sahara Desert, and he is thought to have drawn on those same experiences in The Little Prince . </P> <P> Since its first publication, the novella has been adapted to numerous art forms and media, including audio recordings, radio plays, live stage, film, television, ballet, and opera . </P> <P> Though ostensibly styled as a children's book, The Little Prince makes several observations about life and human nature . For example, Saint - Exupéry tells of a fox meeting the young prince during his travels on Earth . The story's essence is contained in the fox saying that "One sees clearly only with the heart . The essential is invisible to the eye ." Other key morals articulated by the fox are: "You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed," and "It is the time you have lost for your rose that makes your rose so important ." The fox's messages are arguably the book's most famous quotations because they deal with human relationships . </P> <P> The narrator begins with a discussion on the nature of grown - ups and their inability to perceive, especially important things . As a test to determine if a grown - up is enlightened and like a child, he shows them a picture he drew at age 6 of a snake which has eaten an elephant . The grown - ups always reply that the picture is of a hat, and so he knows to talk of "reasonable" things to them, rather than fanciful . </P>

Who does the little prince meet on earth