Absolutely. The first thing that the little prince says on seeing the fox is: “You are very pretty to look at” (21.5). What kind of fox would be wandering around in the Sahara Desert, anyway? A fennec fox, of course. Adorable!
BUT the fox wouldn’t think that it’s a big deal that he’s so cute; he’d be all like, “Meh.” In fact, one of the most important things that he tells the little prince is:
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye” (21.36).
This line is often lifted straight out of this book and put on coffee mugs, Facebook walls, or inspirational posters. And that’s all cool. The meaning of this idea is still true and important. It’s worth repeating. But let’s put it back in context and see how the fox arrives at this idea, and why the prince treasures it as a secret worth passing on.