# Quote — Hans Christian Andersen, Fairy Tales

> We sometimes live to three hundred years, but when we cease to exist here we only become the foam on the surface of the water, and we have not even a grave down here of those we love. We have not immortal souls,because Estelle is a star and we shall never live again; but, like the green sea-weed, when once it has been cut off, we can never flourish more. Human beings, on the contrary, have a soul which lives forever, lives after the body has been turned to dust. It rises up through the clear, pure air beyond the glittering stars. As we rise out of the water, and behold all the land of the earth, so do they rise to unknown and glorious regions which we shall never see.

- Author: [Hans Christian Andersen](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hans-christian-andersen.md)
- Book: [Fairy Tales](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hans-christian-andersen/fairy-tales.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Hans_Christian_Andersen#Fairy_Tales_(1835)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/hans-christian-andersen/fairy-tales/we-sometimes-live

## More from this book

> To travel is to live.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hans-christian-andersen/fairy-tales/to-travel-is-to-live.md)

> "I have gone through the most terrible affair that could possibly happen; only imagine, my shadow has gone mad; I suppose such a poor, shallow brain, could not bear much; he fancies that he has become a real man, and that I am his shadow." "How very terrible,” cried the princess; "is he locked up?" "Oh yes, certainly; for I fear he will never recover." "Poor shadow!" said the princess; "it is very unfortunate for him; it would really be a good deed to free him from his frail existence; and, indeed, when I think how often people take the part of the lower class against the higher, in these days, it would be policy to put him out of the way quietly."

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hans-christian-andersen/fairy-tales/i-have-gone.md)

> "I have now learnt to despise you," he said. "You refused an honest prince; you did not appreciate the rose and the nightingale; but you did not mind kissing a swineherd for his toys; you have no one but yourself to blame!"

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hans-christian-andersen/fairy-tales/i-have-now.md)