The Conceited Man and the Tippler

The second planet was inhabited by a conceited man.

"Ah! A visitor! An admirer!" he exclaimed from far away when he first saw the little prince coming.

To conceited men, all other men are admirers.

"Good morning," said the little prince. "That is a strange hat you are wearing."

"It is a hat for salutes," the conceited man replied. "It is to raise when people cheer for me. Unfortunately, nobody ever passes this way."

"Clap your hands, one against the other," the conceited man directed.

The little prince clapped his hands. The conceited man raised his hat in a modest salute. After five minutes of this exercise the little prince grew tired of the game.

"Do you really admire me very much?" the man demanded.

"What does 'admire' mean?"

"To admire means that you consider me the most handsome, the best-dressed, the richest, and the most intelligent man on this planet."

"But you are the only man on your planet!"

"Do me this kindness. Admire me just the same."

The little prince shrugged slightly and went away.

"The grown-ups are certainly very odd," he said to himself.

The third planet was inhabited by a man who drank. The little prince found him sitting in silence before a collection of empty bottles and full bottles.

"What are you doing there?" said the little prince.

"I am drinking," replied the man gloomily.

"Why are you drinking?"

"So that I may forget."

"Forget what?"

"Forget that I am ashamed."

"Ashamed of what?"

"Ashamed of drinking!" And the man shut himself up in impenetrable silence.

The little prince went away, puzzled. "The grown-ups are certainly very, very odd," he said to himself.