The Geographer

The sixth planet was ten times larger than the last one. It was inhabited by an old gentleman who wrote enormous books.

"Oh, look! Here is an explorer!" he exclaimed when he saw the little prince.

"I am a geographer," said the old gentleman. "A geographer is a scholar who knows the location of all the seas, rivers, towns, mountains, and deserts."

"That is very interesting," said the little prince. "At last a man who has a real profession!" He looked around at the magnificent and impressive planet.

"Your planet is very beautiful. Has it any oceans?"

"I couldn't tell you," said the geographer.

"Has it any mountains? Any towns? Any rivers? Any deserts?"

"I couldn't tell you that, either."

"But you are a geographer!"

"Exactly," the geographer said. "But I am not an explorer. I haven't a single explorer on my planet. It is not the geographer who goes out to count the towns, the rivers, the mountains, the seas, and the deserts. The geographer receives the explorers in his study, asks them questions, and notes down what they remember of their travels."

The geographer asked the little prince to describe his own planet. The little prince mentioned his three volcanoes and his flower.

"We do not record flowers," said the geographer.

"Why not? The flower is the most beautiful thing on my planet!"

"Because flowers are ephemeral — they are in danger of speedy disappearance. Geographies are concerned with eternal things."

"My flower is ephemeral?" said the little prince to himself. "She has only four thorns to defend herself against the world. And I have left her alone on my planet!"

That was his first moment of regret. But he took courage and asked: "What place would you advise me to visit now?"

"The planet Earth," replied the geographer. "It has a good reputation."

And the little prince went away, thinking of his flower.