To be born in a duck's nest, in a farmyard, is of no consequence to a… — Hans Christian Andersen · Smartyfair

To be born in a duck's nest, in a farmyard, is of no consequence to a bird, if it is hatched from a swan's egg.

Hans Christian Andersen1805–1875 · writer · 1800s DenmarkHans Christian Andersen was a Danish author who wrote some of the world's most famous fairy tales, including The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, and The Snow Queen.6 quotes

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In plain words

Where you start does not decide what you will become.

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Where these words come from

How sure this is: 95% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
What turned up: The Ugly Duckling, 1835.
Sources checked: en.wikiquote.orgChecked using claude-sonnet-5, 20 August 2026Sourced section, named story
en.wikisource.orgChecked using claude-fable-5, 21 August 2026'The Ugly Duckling', Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales trans. Mrs. H.B. Paull (1888) — verbatim by direct fetch on Wikisource; NB Gutenberg #1597 does not contain this story

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More from Hans Christian Andersen

Where words fail, sounds can often speak.

Hans Christian Andersen To travel is to live.

Hans Christian Andersen The sun made the leaves transparent—there was a fragrance, a freshness—the birds sang. I was overcome by it.

Hans Christian Andersen That which is bitter passes away, and the whole world appears in sunlight.

Hans Christian Andersen My life is a lovely story, happy and full of incident.

Hans Christian Andersen

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J.R.R. Tolkien 'Know thyself' was written over the portal of the antique world. Over the portal of the new world, 'Be thyself' shall be written.