The Little Prince has been written in the 1940s by Antoine de Saint-Exupery yet its lessons never go Jurrasic. The lessons continually shed light to each one of us as its famous quotes are being referenced to until now. I have to admit that I have just read this book now although I have come across it several times before. I never felt the urge to read it... and boy, did I regret. I recommend you read it. Don't overthink it. Just move along the pages. I am sure you will not even want to stop once you get started. This is a book that you will want to read over and over again. ^_^

Lessons:

Never discourage an inquisitive mind. Like the Little Prince, asking questions and having an open-mind are the keys to understanding and happiness. A warning is thrown to us that as we grow older, we loose our open-mindedness. In the story, adults are unimaginative, dull, superficial, and stubbornly sure that their limited perspective is the only one possible. Children, on the other hand, are imaginative, open-minded, and aware of and sensitive to the mystery and beauty of the world. As it relates today, it tells us that when children are inquisitive, never get annoyed. Answer them as truthfully as you can. Never discourage their imagination.

Be watchful of stereotypes. Also, if you want your opinions heard, dress appropriately. It warns us that we tend to judge a person's capability and credibility according to how we stereotype them. In the book, a Turkish astronomer first presents his discovery of Asteroid B-612, he is ignored because he wears traditional Turkish clothing. Years later, he makes the same presentation wearing a widely accepted clothing and receives resounding acclaim.

Relationships make the other special. There are several human beings, several flowers, several foxes in the world. Yet, what makes one human being, one flower, or one fox special and unique is the time you wasted to it. It's the relationship. When the fox asks to be tamed, he explains to the little prince that investing oneself in another person makes that person, and everything associated with him or her, more special. The Little Prince shows that what one gives to another is even more important than what that other gives back in return. The fox statement was, "anything essential is invisible to the eye."

Correct a bad manner as soon as you see the first sign. "When you've finished your own toilet in the morning, then it is time to attend to the toilet of your planet, just so, with the greatest care. You must see to it that you pull up regularly all the baobabs, at the very first moment when they can be distinguished from the rosebushes which they resemble so closely in their earliest youth. It is very tedious work," the little prince added, "but very easy." The baobabs are plants found in the little prince's planet. It is a plant that grows so huge with roots that seep down the asteroid's core. Because the asteroid is small, a single baobab will cause harm to the planet and will eventually break it down to pieces. Therefore, at the first sign of it, while it's still young, uproot the harmful plant. Metaphorically, it means that a single harmful manner destroys our whole character.

Death is a separate journey not the end. The destination and the presence is just different from where it used to. "... it will be like an old abandoned shell. There is nothing sad about old shells . . ."

Characters worth reflecting. Which one are you?

Proud Flower demands a lot of attention and affection but is not affectionate. It has not told little prince that it loves him.
Fox: A wild fox that was eventually tamed. He has taught the prince about relationships and responsibility.
King: "If I ordered a general to change himself into a sea bird, and if the general did not obey me, that would not be the fault of the general. It would be my fault." One must require from each one the duty which each one can perform. I have the right to require obedience because my orders are reasonable.
Conceited Man who never hear anything except praise. He regard himself as the handsomest, the best-dressed, the richest, and the most intelligent man on his planet.
Tippler who drinks because he is ashamed of drinking. An irony at that!
Businessman who has so much to do and is very busy with counting the stars. For him, he owns the stars. He said kings do not own but reign over. "Then they belong to me, because I was the first person to think of it." Certainly. When you find a diamond that belongs to nobody, it is yours. When you discover an island that belongs to nobody, it is yours. When you get an idea before any one else, you take out a patent on it: it is yours. So with me: I own the stars, because nobody else before me ever thought of owning them." He is also an opportunist.
Lamplighter who is faithful to his orders and works all day. He is a workaholic.
Geographer who is an old gentleman writer who thinks he discovered every planet. He is know-it-all and does not listen to suggestions.
Switchman are travelers on train who are never satisfied where they are and are pursuing nothing at all.
Merchant who invented a pill that can quench thirst and saves 53mins a day. With his extra time, he walks to get fresh water.

For an intensive analysis of The Little Prince, SparkNotes gave a very good summary of each chapter in SparkNotes: The Little Prince.