Damp veils of mist swirled around them. They were dreadfully cold (Moomintroll thought longingly of his woolly trousers) and surrounded completely by an awful floating emptiness." I always thought clouds were soft and woolly and nice to be in," said Sniff, sneezing. "Ugh! I'm beginning to be sorry I ever came on this expedition.

— Tove Jansson

Everyone must imagine his own snakes because no one else's snakes can ever be as awful.

— Tove Jansson

Here is the most valuable thing in the whole of Moo min Valley, Broke! Do you know what has grown out of this hat? Raspberry juice and fruit trees, and the most beautiful little self-propelling clouds: the only Hobgoblin's Hat in the world!

— Tove Jansson

He was the owner of the moonlight on the ground, he fell in love with the most beautiful of the trees, he made wreaths of leaves and strung them around his neck.

— Tove Jansson

How happy he must be, this Hobgoblin," exclaimed Sniff." He isn't a bit," replied Snuffing, "and he won't be until he finds the King's Ruby. It's almost as big as the black panther's head, and to look into it is like looking at leaping flames. The Hobgoblin has looked for the King's Ruby on all the planets including Neptune -- but he hasn't found it. Just now he has gone off to the moon to search in the craters, but he hasn't much hope of success, because in his heart of hearts the Hobgoblin believes that the King's Ruby lies in the sun, where he can never go because it is too hot.

— Tove Jansson

I cannot stress enough the perils of your friends marrying or becoming court inventors. One day you are all a society of outlaws, adventurous comrades and companions who will be pushing off somewhere or other when things become tiresome; you have all the world to choose from, just by looking at the map… And then, suddenly, they’re not interested anymore. They want to keep warm. They’re afraid of the rain. Furthermore, they start collecting big things that can’t fit in a rucksack. Furthermore, they talk only of small things. Furthermore, they don’t like to make sudden decisions and do something contrariwise. Formerly they hoisted sail; now they carpenter little shelves for porcelain mugs.

— Tove Jansson

If you're not afraid, how can you be really brave?

— Tove Jansson

I know I do everything. I've been doing everything for an awfully long time, and I've seen and lived as hard as I could, and it's been unbelievable, I tell you, unbelievable. But now I have the feeling everything is gliding away from me, and I don't remember, and I don't care, and yet now is right when I need it.

— Tove Jansson

I'm afraid we shall waste an awful lot of time."" Don't worry," answered Snuffing, "we shall have wonderful dreams, and when we wake up it'll be spring.

— Tove Jansson

It is simply this: do not tire, never lose interest, never grow indifferent—lose your invaluable curiosity, and you let yourself die. It's as simple as that.

— Tove Jansson