Louisa May Alcott

“Dear old fellow! He couldn't have got himself up with more care if he'd been going a-wooing," said Jo to herself, and then a sudden thought born of the words made her blush so dreadfully that she had to drop her ball, and go down after it to hide her face.”

“We each are young, we each have a heart, Oh, why should we thus stand coldly apart”

“Chance words spoken in kindness often help amazingly; and that's what old people are here for -- else their experience is of little use.”

“Education is not confined to books, and the finest characters often graduate from no college, but make experience their master, and life their book. [Some care] only for the mental culture, and [are] in danger of over-studying, under the delusion . . . that learning must be had at all costs, forgetting that health and real wisdom are better.”

“The scar will remain, but it is better for a man to lose both arms than his soul; and these hard years, instead of being lost, may be made the most precious of your lives, if they teach you to rule yourselves.”

“A little kingdom I possess, where thoughts and feelings dwell; And very hard the task I find of governing it well.”

“Right Jo better be happy old maids than unhappy wives or unmaidenly girls running about to find husbands.”

“And Polly did n't think she had done much; but it was one of the little things which are always waiting to be done in this world of ours, where rainy days come so often, where spirits get out of tune, and duty won't go hand in hand with pleasure. Little things of this sort are especially good work for little people; a kind little thought, an unselfish little act, a cheery little word, are so sweet and comfortable, that no one can fail to feel their beauty and love the giver, no matter how small they are. Mothers do a deal of this sort of thing, unseen, unthanked, but felt and remembered long afterward, and never lost, for this is the simple magic that binds hearts together, and keeps home happy.”

“The thought that, insignificant as she was, she yet might do some good, made her very careful of her acts and words, and so anxious to keep head contented and face happy, that she forgot her clothes, and made others do the same. She did not know it, but that good old fashion of simplicity made the plain gowns pretty, and the grace of unconsciousness beautified their little wearer with the charm that makes girlhood sweetest to those who truly love and reverence it.”

“Beth ceased to fear him from that moment, and sat there talking to him as cozily as if she had known him all her life, for love casts out fear, and gratitude can conquer pride.”

“Where's the use of looking nice, when no one sees me but those cross midgets, and no one cares whether I'm pretty or not?”

“It takes two flints to make a fire.”

“Go out more, keep cheerful as well as busy, for you are the sunshine-maker of the family, and if you get dismal there is no fair weather.”

“We'll all grow up someday, Meg, we might as well know what we want. ~Amy March~”

“{Mrs. March to Jo} You are too much alike and too fond of freedom, not to mention hot tempers and strong wills, to get on happily together, in a relation which needs infinite patience and forbearance, as well as love.”

“I only mean to say that I have a feeling that it never was intended I should live long. I'm not like the rest of you.”

“He was poor, yet always appeared to be giving something away; a stranger, yet everyone was his friend; no longer young, but as happy-hearted as a boy; plain and peculiar, yet his face looked beautiful to many.”

“It's so dreadful to be poor!" sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress. "I don't think it's fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all,”

“Presently, out from the wrappings came a teapot, which caused her to clasp her hands with delight, for it was made in the likeness of a plump little Chinaman ... Two pretty cups with covers, and a fine scarlet tray, completed the set, and made one long to have a "dish of tea," even in Chinese style, without cream or sugar.”

“You don’t need scores of suitors. You need only one… if he’s the right one.”

“We can't any of us do all we would like, but we can do our best for every case that comes to us, and that helps amazingly.”

“...but, dear me, let us be elegant or die.”

“A quick temper, sharp tongue, and restless spirit were always getting her into scrapes, and her life was a series of ups and downs, which were both comic and pathetic.”

“(V)irtue, like sunshine, works its own sweet miracles”

“It is often said that there should be no death or grief in children's stories. It is not wise to dwell on the dark and sad side of these things; but they have also a bright and lovely side, and since even the youngest, dearest, and most guarded child cannot escape some knowledge of the great mystery, is it not well to teach them in simple, cheerful ways that affection sweetens sorrow, and a lovely life can make death beautiful?”

“(E)very genuine act or word, no matter how trifling it seems, leaves a sweet and strengthening influence behind”

“(D)espair never lives long in young hearts”

“Our actions are in our own hands, but the consequences of them are not. Remember that, my dear, and think twice before you do anything.”

“One of the sweet things about pain and sorrow is that they show us how well we are loved, how much kindness there is in the world, and how easily we can make others happy in the same way when they need help and sympathy.”

“Nothing provokes speculation more than the sight of a woman enjoying herself." -”

“But, Polly, a principle that can't bear being laughed at, frowned on, and cold-shouldered, isn't worthy of the name.”

“…the violin — that most human of all instruments…”

“…he stood behind her, tall and pale, like the ghost of his former self…”

“Don't take it away! It's only a fancy, but a man must love something…”

“Perhaps it would have been better if he had killed me; my life is spoilt.”

“…men never forgive like women.”

“Dan clung to her in speechless gratitude, feeling the blessedness of mother love, — that divine gift which comforts, purifies, and strengthens all who seek it.”

“Mothers can forgive anything! Tell me all, and be sure that I will never let you go, though the whole world should turn from you.”

“And mother-like, Mrs. Jo forgot the threatened chastisement in tender lamentations over the happy scapegrace…”

“…courage and devotion always stir generous hearts, and win admiration…”

“It's lovely to see people so happy.”

“…she never had what she wanted till she had given up hoping for,' said Mrs. Meg.”

“…proved that woman isn't a half but a whole human being, and can stand alone.”

“…that's what old people are here for, — else their experience is of little use.”

“…I wanted to show that the mother was the heroine as soon as possible. I'm tired of love-sick girls and runaway wives. We'll prove that there's romance in old women also.”

“…a woman's always safe and comfortable when a fellow's down on his luck.”

“The story of his downfall is soon told; for it came, as so often happens, just when he felt unusually full of high hopes, good resolutions, and dreams of a better life.”

“…thirst is harder to bear than hunger, heat, or cold.”

“…he felt he could willingly give his life for them.”

“…had an hour of silent agony that aged him more than years of happy life could have done.”