I know a planet where there is a certain red-faced gentleman. He has never smelled a flower. He has never looked at a star. He has never loved any one. He has never done anything in his life but add up figures. And all day he says over and over, just like you: 'I am busy with matters of consequence!' And that makes him swell up with pride. But he is not a man - he is a mushroom!
In "The Little Prince," the author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry presents a character who embodies the emptiness of a life consumed by trivial pursuits. This red-faced gentleman, who is focused solely on numerical calculations, lives in a world devoid of beauty, love, and wonder. His pride in his busywork illustrates a shallow existence, as he has never experienced the joys that life's simple pleasures offer. His repetitive assertions of being "busy with matters of consequence" indicate a misguided sense of importance that ultimately leads to his isolation from the world.
Saint-Exupéry cleverly contrasts this character with the ideals of genuine human experience, suggesting that true fulfillment comes from appreciating nature, forming connections, and embracing the qualities that make life meaningful. By reducing the gentleman to a mushroom, the author highlights how a life without emotional engagement or appreciation for the world is ultimately unremarkable. This critique serves as a reminder of the importance of balance between responsibilities and the experiences that enrich our lives.
