Felix Salten > Quotes

“...I'm just beginning to understand how kind you are.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods

“Aren't you afraid of death, oak? How can you speak so casually about it?'
The trees creaked their bare branches until it seemed to Geno that they must be laughing.
'Death?' they said. 'How is it death to return to earth again? Our seed can grow from us. We shall return.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi's Children

“Your growing antlers,' Bambi continued, 'are proof of your intimate place in the forest, for of all the things that live and grow only the trees and the deer shed their foliage each year and replace it more strongly, more magnificently, in the spring. Each year the trees grow larger and put on more leaves. And so you too increase in size and wear a larger, stronger crown.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi's Children

“Bambi was inspired, and said trembling, "There is Another who is over us all, over us and over Him.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods

“The most dreadful part of all," the old stag answered, "is that the dogs believe what the hound just said. They believe it, they pass their lives in fear, they hate Him and themselves and yet they'd die for His sake.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods

“They fluttered and rustled ceaselessly through the air from all the tree-tops and branches. A delicate silvery sound was falling constantly to earth. It was wonderful to awaken amidst it, wonderful to fall asleep to this mysterious and melancholy whispering.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi

“You see, when you're young and foolish it doesn't matter where you may be, you always think that you'll be happier somewhere else.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi's Children

“What do you want? What do you know about it? What are you talking about? Everything belongs to Him, just as I do. But I, I love Him. I worship Him, I serve Him. Do you think you can oppose Him, poor creatures like you? He's all-powerful. He's above all of you. Everything we have comes from Him. Everything that lives or grows comes from Him.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods

“The young doe, Marena, said, "In this very hour many of us are going to die. Perhaps I shall be one of them.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods

“Marena looked at all of them out of her big, calm, shining eyes. "Love is no nonsense," she said. "It has to come.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods

“A robin perched on the branch of the apple tree, his feathers ruffled, his red chest blazing.
'No need to look so down in the mouth,' he chirruped. 'Things'll get worse before they get better.'
'I don't know what it is about that tree,' Geno grumbled, 'that makes everything that sits in it talk in proverbs.'
'It's easier than thinking,' the robin stated.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi's Children

“How can you waste time? You have only so much to use, and no matter what you do, it still passes.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi's Children

“Everything you say,' Geno said rather irritably, 'contradicts itself.'
'Of course it does,' the screech owl rejoined obscurely. 'Otherwise, how would anyone ever keep to the middle of the road?”
― Felix Salten, Bambi's Children

“Don't lose your head," screamed the pheasant. And at the same time his voice broke in a whistling gasp and, spreading his wings, he flew up with a loud whir. Bambi watched how he flew straight up, directly between the trees, beating his wings. The dark metallic blue and greenish-brown marking son his body gleamed like gold. His long tail feathers swept proudly behind him. A short crash like thunder sounded sharply. The pheasant suddenly crumpled up in mid-flight.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods

“Now the fox sat upright. His lovely pointed snout sank down to his bloodied breast, his eyes rose up and stared at the dog right into his face . In a quite different voice, in control of himself, sad and bitter, he snarled, “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself ...? You traitor!” “No! No! No!” the dog yelled. The fox, however went on. “You turncoat ... you defector!” His lacerated body became stiff with hatred and contempt. “You’re just His henchman,” he hissed. “You miserable ... you seek us out where He couldn’t find us ... you persecute us in places that He can’t get to ... you turn us in ..., and all of us are your relatives ... you turn me in, and you and I are nearly brothers ... and you just stand there ...are you not ashamed of yourself?”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods by Felix Salten: A Tale of Innocence, Growth, and the Natural World

“Marena," he said with an effort, "Marena...." He did not recognize her. His voice failed.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods

“Horrible ...” said Bambi in his chamber to the elder. “Worst of all,” the elder replied, “is that they believe in what the dog just said. They believe it, they live a life full of fear, they hate Him and they hate themselves ... and they kill themselves for his sake.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods by Felix Salten: A Tale of Innocence, Growth, and the Natural World

“The dog looked around him. “You!” he called. “What do you want? What do you know about it? What are you talking about? All o’ you belong to ‘Im, just like I belong to ‘Im! But me ... well I love ‘Im, I pray to ‘Im! I serve ‘Im! But you, you don’t know that ‘E’s in charge ‘ere. You’re pitiful you are, you can’t rebel against ‘Im? ‘E’s the almighty! ‘E’s above all of us! Ev’rything you’ve got comes from ‘Im! E’vrything that grows and lives, it all comes from ‘Im.” The dog was shaking in his outrage.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods by Felix Salten: A Tale of Innocence, Growth, and the Natural World

“Yes, life was hard and full of danger. Let it bring whatever it wants, he would learn somehow to bear all of it.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods by Felix Salten: A Tale of Innocence, Growth, and the Natural World

“It's hard to believe that it will ever be better," Bambi's mother sighed. Aunt Ena sighed too. "It's hard to believe that it was ever any better," she said. "And yet," Marena said, looking in front of her, "I always think how beautiful it was before.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods

“The pheasant had slipped from slumber into death, and new nothing of the end.”
― Felix Salten

“One day, when Djibi's raised her little head to drink by herself, the battle against death was won.”
― Felix Salten

“If you can´t say something nice, don´t say nothing at all. (Thumper from the Disney movie Bambi)”
― Felix Salten

“I have to be alone,” he replied. He had wanted to say it in a soothing way, but it sounded hard. He heard it himself. Faline looked at him and quietly asked, “Do you still love me?” Bambi did not hesitate and answered, “I don’t know.” She went calmly away and left him alone.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods by Felix Salten: A Tale of Innocence, Growth, and the Natural World

“»Der Igel ist ein fürchterliches Geschöpf«, rief Faline. »Voll großer Stacheln am ganzen Körper . . . und dazu noch sehr böse!«
»Glaubst du wirklich, daß er böse ist?« fragte Gobo. »Er tut doch niemandem etwas zuleide.«
»So?« erwiderte Faline schnell, »hat er dich vielleicht nicht gestochen?«
»Ach, das war nur, weil ich mit ihm reden wollte«, wendete Gobo ein, »und nur ein kleines bißchen. Es hat nicht sehr weh getan.«
Bambi wandte sich an Gobo: »Warum wollte er denn nicht, daß du mit ihm redest?«
»Er will mit niemandem reden«, mengte sich Faline ein. »Sowie man nur in seine Nähe kommt, rollt er sich zusammen, und dann siehst du von allen Seiten nur seine Stacheln. Unsere Mutter sagt, er ist so einer, der mit der Welt nichts zu tun haben will.«
Gobo meinte: »Vielleicht fürchtet er sich nur.«
Aber Faline verstand das besser: »Die Mutter sagt, mit so jemandem soll man sich gar nicht einlassen.«”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: Eine Lebensgeschichte aus dem Walde

“The less you hurt others, the more you get hurt yourself.”
― Felix Salten, Fifteen Rabbits

“Ja, das Leben war schwer und voll Gefahren. Es mochte bringen, was es wollte, er würde lernen, alles zu ertragen.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods

“Er fühlte sich von etwas Dunklem bedroht, er verstand nicht, wie die anderen so heiter und sorglos sein konnten, wenn doch das Leben so schwer und so gefährlich war. In dieser Stunde ergriff ihn das Verlangen, weit fort zu gehen, immer tiefer und tiefer in den Wald hinein.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods

“Bambi schien das eine wie das andere überaus hochmütig, die Art, wie der Hirsch ihn angeblickt hatte, und die Art, wie er jetzt vor sich hin sah, als sei niemand sonst zugegen.
Bambi wußte nicht, was er tun sollte. Er war mit der festen Absicht herausgekommen, den Hirsch anzusprechen. Guten Morgen, hatte er sagen wollen, ich heiße Bambi... darf ich um Ihren werten Namen bitten?
Jawohl! Er hatte sich das sehr einfach vorgestellt, und nun zeigte es sich, daß die Sache doch nicht so einfach war. Was half da die beste Absicht? Bambi wollte nicht gerne ungezogen sein, und das war er, wenn er hier herauskam, ohne ein Wort zu sagen. Er wollte auch nicht zudringlich sein, und das war er, wenn er zu reden anfing.
Der Hirsch stand empörend majestätisch da. Bambi war hingerissen und fühlte sich gedemütigt. Vergebens suchte er sich aufzurütteln und wiederholte immer wieder nur den einen Gedanken: Warum lasse ich mich denn einschüchtern..? Ich bin gerade so viel wie er... gerade so viel wie er!
Es half nichts. Bambi blieb eingeschüchtert und spürte es im Grunde seines Wesens, daß er doch nicht gerade so viel sei. Lange nicht. Ihm war jämmerlich zumut, und er brauchte seine ganze Kraft, um einigermaßen Haltung zu bewahren.
Der Hirsch sah ihn an und dachte: Er ist reizend... er ist wirklich entzückend... so hübsch... so zierlich... so fein in seinem ganzen Benehmen... Aber ich darf ihn nicht so anstarren. Das schickt sich wirklich nicht. Außerdem könnte es ihn auch in Verlegenheit bringen.
Und er schaute wieder über Bambi weg ins Leere.
Dieser hochmütige Blick! stellte Bambi fest. Es ist unerträglich, was so einer sich einbildet!
Der Hirsch dachte: Ich möchte gerne mit ihm sprechen... er ist so sympathisch... wie dumm, daß man nie miteinander redet! Und er blickte nachdenklich vor sich hin.
Ich bin Luft für ihn, sagte Bambi, diese Sippe tut immer, als sei sie ganz allein auf der Welt!
Aber was soll ich zu ihm sagen..? überlegte der Hirsch, ... ich habe keine Übung... ich werde eine Dummheit sagen und mich lächerlich machen... denn er ist gewiß sehr klug.
Bambi nahm sich zusammen und sah den Hirsch fest an. Wie prächtig er ist! dachte er verzweifelt.
Nun... vielleicht ein andermal... entschloß sich schließlich der Hirsch und ging unzufrieden, aber herrlich davon.
Bambi blieb verbittert zurück.”
― Felix Salten, Bambi: A Life in the Woods