英文原著《小王子》片段

If I have told you these details about asteroid B-612, and if I have given you its number, it is on account of the grown-ups. Grown-ups like numbers. When you tell them about a new friend, they never ask questions about what really matters. 
如果我给你们讲关于小行星 B－612 的这些细节，并且告诉你们它的编号，这是由于这些大人的缘故。大人们就是爱数字。当你对大人们讲起你的一个新朋友时，他们从来不会问什么实质性的问题。

They never ask, “What does his voice sound like? What games does he like best? Does he collect butterflies?” They ask, “How old is he? How many brothers does he have? How much does he weigh? How much money does his father make?” Only then, do they think they know him.
他们从来不会讲：“他说话的声音如何啊？他喜爱什么样的游戏啊？他是否收集蝴蝶标本呀？” 他们会问你：“他多大年纪 呀？弟兄几个呀？体重多少呀？他父亲挣多少钱呀？”了解了这些数字，他们觉得才算是了解了这个人。

If you tell grown-ups, “I saw a beautiful red brick house, with geraniums at the windows and doves on the roof.” They won't be able to imagine such a house. 
如果你对大人们说：“我看到一幢漂亮的红色砖房，它的窗户上有天竺葵，屋顶上还有鸽子......”他们是不能想象这样的房子的。

You have to tell them, “I saw a house worth 100, 000 francs.” Then they exclaim, “What a pretty house!”
你必须对他们说：“我看见了一幢价值十万法郎的房子。”那么他们就惊叫道：“多么漂亮的房子啊!”

So, if you tell them, “The proof of the little prince’s existence is that he was delightful, that he laughed, and that he wanted a sheep. When someone wants a sheep, that proves he exists.” They shrug their shoulders and treat you like a child.
要是你对他们说：“小王子存在的证据就是他很讨人喜欢，他笑着，而且想要一只羊。任何人想要一只小羊，这就证明他是存在的。” 你要这么说，他们一定会耸耸肩膀，把你当作孩子看待。

But if you tell them, “The planet he came from is Asteroid B-612,’ then they’ll be convinced, and they won't bother you with their questions. 
但是，如果你对他们说：“小王子来自的星球是小行星 B-612”，那么他们就十分信服，就不会提出一大堆问题来和你纠缠。

That’s the way they are. You must not hold it against them. Children should be very understanding of grown-ups.
他们就是这样的。小孩子们对大人们应该宽厚些，不要埋怨他们。

But of course, those of us who understand life, couldn’t care less about numbers. I should have liked to begin this story like a fairy-tale. 
当然，对我们这些理解生活的人来说，我们才不在乎那些编号呢！我真愿意像讲一个神话故事那样来讲这个故事。

I should have like to say, “Once upon a time, there was a little prince who lived on a planet hardly any bigger than he was, and who needed a friend. ”
我真想这样说：“从前呀，有一个小王子，他住在一个和他身体差不多大的星球上，他想要一个朋友。”