“Jo's breath gave out here, and wrapping her head in the paper, she bedewed her little story with a few natural tears, for to be independent and earn the praise of those she loved were the dearest wishes of her heart, and this seemed to be the first step toward that happy end.”
Source: LOUISA MAY ALCOTT Ultimate Collection: 16 Novels & 150+ Short Stories, Plays and Poems (Illustrated): Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men, Jo's Boys, A Modern Mephistopheles, Eight Cousins, Rose in Bloom, Jack and Jill, Behind a Mask, Lulu's Library, The Abbot's Ghost, A Garland for Girls…
“Gentlemen, be courteous to the old maids, no matter how poor and plain and prim, for the only chivalry worth having is that which is the readiest to to pay deference to the old, protect the feeble, and serve womankind, regardless of rank, age, or color.”
Source: Delphi Complete Works of Louisa May Alcott (Illustrated)
“Wouldn't it be fun if all the castles in the air which we make could come true and we could live in them?”
Source: The 'Little Women' Trilogy (Illustrated)
“Meg's high-heeled slippers were dreadfully tight, and hurt her, though she would not own it; and Jo's nineteen hair-pins all seemed stuck straight into her head, which was not exactly comfortable; but, dear me, let us be elegant or die.”
Source: Little Women ; Little Men ; Jo's Boys
“[Jo to her mother] I knew there was mischief brewing. I felt it and now it's worse than I imagined. I just wish I could marry Meg myself, and keep her safe in the family.”
Source: Little Women (Illustrated Edition)
“Jo's face was a study next day, for the secret rather weighed upon her, and she found it hard not to look mysterious and important. Meg observed it, but did not troubled herself to make inquiries, for she had learned that the best way to manage Jo was by the law of contraries, so she felt sure of being told everything if she did not ask.”
Source: Delphi Complete Works of Louisa May Alcott (Illustrated)
“Mine first --mine last-- mine even in the grave!”
Source: Little Women
“To me, love isn't all. I must look up, not down, trust and honor with my whole heart, and find strenght and integrity to lean on”
Source: Delphi Complete Works of Louisa May Alcott (Illustrated)
“Keep good company, read good books, love good things and cultivate soul and body as faithfully as you can”
Source: LOUISA MAY ALCOTT Ultimate Collection: 16 Novels & 150+ Short Stories, Plays and Poems (Illustrated): Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men, Jo's Boys, A Modern Mephistopheles, Eight Cousins, Rose in Bloom, Jack and Jill, Behind a Mask, Lulu's Library, The Abbot's Ghost, A Garland for Girls…
“A real gentleman is as polite to a little girl as to a woman.”
Source: Louisa May Alcott Premium Edition - 16 Novels in One Volume: Little Women Trilogy & Other Novels (Illustrated): Moods, The Mysterious Key and What It Opened, An Old Fashioned Girl, Work, Eight Cousins, Rose in Bloom, Under the Lilacs, Jack and Jill, Behind a Mask, The Abbot's Ghost, A Modern Mephistopheles…
“A time will come when you will find that in gaining a brief joy you have lost your peace forever.”
Source: A Long Fatal Love Chase
“I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.”
Source: Greatest Christmas Novels in One Volume: Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, Heidi, The Romance of a Christmas Card, The Little City of Hope, The Wonderful Life, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Little Lord Fauntleroy, Peter Pan…
“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.”
Source: Work: A Story of Experience: Easyread Large Bold Edition
“You have a good many little gifts and virtues, but there is no need of parading them, for conceit spoils the finest genius. There is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long, and the great charm of all power is modesty.”
Source: Little Women and Little Men
“We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving, and we all have the power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing.”
“Painful as it may be, a significant emotional event can be the catalyst for choosing a direction that serves us - and those around us - more effectively. Look for the learning.”
“Happy is the son whose faith in his mother remains unchallenged.”
“Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success.”
Source: Little Women (Illustrated Edition)
“A faithful friend is a strong defense; And he that hath found him hath found a treasure.”
“Love is a great beautifier.”
Source: The Complete Little Women Series: Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men, Jo's Boys: The Beloved Classics of American Literature: The coming-of-age series based on the author’s own childhood experiences with her three sisters
“What do girls do who haven't any mothers to help them through their troubles?”
“A little kingdom I possess, where thoughts and feelings dwell; And very hard the task I find of governing it well.”
“He who believes is strong; he who doubts is weak. Strong convictions precede great actions.”
“Let my name stand among those who are willing to bear ridicule and reproach for the truth's sake, and so earn some right to rejoice when the victory is won.”
“Girls are so queer you never know what they mean. They say No when they mean Yes, and drive a man out of his wits for the fun of it.”
“Father asked us what was God's noblest work. Anna said men, but I said babies. Men are often bad, but babies never are.”
Source: Delphi Complete Works of Louisa May Alcott (Illustrated)
“Housekeeping ain't no joke.”
“Money is the root of all evil, and yet it is such a useful root that we cannot get on without it any more than we can without potatoes.”
Source: Little Women and Little Men
“It takes two flints to make a fire.”
Source: Greatest Christmas Novels in One Volume: Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, Heidi, The Romance of a Christmas Card, The Little City of Hope, The Wonderful Life, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Little Lord Fauntleroy, Peter Pan…
“Women have been called queens for a long time, but the kingdom given them isn't worth ruling.”
“People don't have fortunes left them in that style nowadays; men have to work and women to marry for money. It's a dreadfully unjust world.”
Source: Little Women
“It takes people a long time to learn the difference between talent and genius, especially ambitious young men and women.”
Source: Little Women
“I like to help women help themselves, as that is, in my opinion, the best way to settle the woman question. Whatever we can do and do well we have a right to, and I don't think any one will deny us.”
Source: The quiet little woman: Tilly's Christmas ; Rosa's tale : three enchanting Christmas stories
“Marmee: Oh, Jo. Jo, you have so many extraordinary gifts; how can you expect to lead an ordinary life? You’re ready to go out and – and find a good use for your talent. Tho’ I don’t know what I shall do without my Jo. Go, and embrace your liberty. And see what wonderful things come of it.”
“When I had the youth I had no money, now I have the money I have no time, and when I get the time, if I ever do, I shall have no health to enjoy life.”
Source: Delphi Complete Works of Louisa May Alcott (Illustrated)
“John Brooke is acting dreadfully, and Meg likes it!”
Source: Little Women
“Love and Loyalty If ever men and women are their simplest, sincerest selves, it is when suffering softens the one, and sympathy strengthens the other.”
Source: Hospital Sketches and Camp and Fireside Stories
“Many argue; not many converse.”
“I shall keep my book on the table here, and read a little every morning as soon as I wake, for I know it will do me good, and help me through the day.”
Source: The Complete Little Women Series: Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men, Jo's Boys: The Beloved Classics of American Literature: The coming-of-age series based on the author’s own childhood experiences with her three sisters
“The small hopes and plans and pleasures of children should be tenderly respected by grown-up people, and never rudely thwarted or ridiculed.”
Source: Little Men: Life at Plumfield with Jo's Boys & A Sequel - Jo's Boys and How They Turned Out (Children’s Classics Series – Illustrated Edition)
“Dear me! how happy and good we'd be, if we had no worries!”
Source: Greatest Christmas Novels in One Volume: Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, Heidi, The Romance of a Christmas Card, The Little City of Hope, The Wonderful Life, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Little Lord Fauntleroy, Peter Pan…
“I like good strong words that mean something.”
Source: The Complete Little Women Series: Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men, Jo's Boys: The Beloved Classics of American Literature: The coming-of-age series based on the author’s own childhood experiences with her three sisters
“But, like all happiness, it did not last long.”
Source: Greatest Christmas Novels in One Volume: Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, Heidi, The Romance of a Christmas Card, The Little City of Hope, The Wonderful Life, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Little Lord Fauntleroy, Peter Pan…
“Jo's ambition was to do something very splendid; what it was she had no idea, as yet, but left it for time to tell her.”
Source: The Complete Works of Louisa May Alcott (Illustrated): Novels, Short Stories, Plays & Poems: Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men, Jo's Boys, A Modern Mephistopheles, Eight Cousins, Rose in Bloom, Jack and Jill, Behind a Mask, The Abbot's Ghost…
“I like adventures, and I’m going to find some.”
Source: The 'Little Women' Trilogy (Illustrated)
“So she enjoyed herself heartily, and found, what isn't always the case, that her granted wish was all she had hoped.”
Source: Little Women (Illustrated Edition)
“Well, I am happy, and I won't fret, but it does seem as if the more one gets the more one wants.”
Source: Little Women Collection: Little Women, Little Men, Eight Cousins and More
“I don't think secrets agree with me, I feel rumpled up in mind since you told me that.”
Source: Delphi Complete Works of Louisa May Alcott (Illustrated)
“Don't try to make me grow up before my time.”
Source: Little Women
“The clocks were striking midnight and the rooms were very still as a figure glided quietly from bed to bed, smoothing a coverlid here, settling a pillow there, and pausing to look long and tenderly at each unconscious face, to kiss each with lips that mutely blessed, and to pray the fervent prayers which only mothers utter.”
Source: Greatest Christmas Novels in One Volume: Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, Heidi, The Romance of a Christmas Card, The Little City of Hope, The Wonderful Life, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Little Lord Fauntleroy, Peter Pan…