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Home / Books / 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…

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…

Book by Louisa May Alcott · 50 quotes · Ifs, Little Women, Long

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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… Quotes

“Well, very long ago, on the spot where the Wild Wood waves now, before ever it had planted itself and grown up to what it now is, there was a city - a city of people, you know. Here, where we are standing, they lived, and walked, and talked, and slept, and carried on their business. Here they stabled their horses and feasted, from here they rode out to fight or drove out to trade. They were a powerful people, and rich, and great builders. They built to last, for they thought their city would last for ever.”

“I shall give life here my best, and I believe it will give its best to me in return.”

“Diamond, however, had not been out so late before in all his life, and things looked so strange about him! - just as if he had got into Fairyland, of which he knew quite as much as anybody; for his mother had no money to buy books to set him wrong on the subject.”

“A kiss for a blow is always best, though it's not very easy to give it sometimes.”

“He brought toys to the children because they were little and helpless, and because he loved them.”

“There was a good deal of laughing and kissing and explaining, in the simple, loving fashion which makes these home-festivals so pleasant at the time, so sweet to remember long afterward, and then all fell to work.”

“Nothing in the world is so strong as a kind heart.”

“If we are all alive ten years hence, let's meet, and see how many of us have got our wishes, or how much nearer we are then than now.”

“Oh, it's delightful to have ambitions. I'm so glad I have such a lot. And there never seems to be any end to them-- that's the best of it. Just as soon as you attain to one ambition you see another one glittering higher up still. It does make life so interesting.”

“Watch and pray, dear, never get tired of trying, and never think it is impossible to conquer your fault.”

“...freedom being the sauce best beloved by the boyish soul.”

“...for love casts out fear, and gratitude can conquer pride.”

“I shall really be very unhappy unless you give me the sort of courage that makes one forget he is afraid.”

“Love Jo all your days, if you choose, but don't let it spoil you, for it's wicked to throw away so many good gifts because you can't have the one you want.”

“You have grown abominably lazy, and you like gossip, and waste time on frivolous things, you are contented to be petted and admired by silly people, instead of being loved and respected by wise ones.”

“You are the gull, Jo, strong and wild, fond of the storm and the wind, flying far out to sea, and happy all alone.”

“politics were as bad as mathematics, and that the mission of politicians seemed to be calling each other names”

“Anne always remembered the silvery, peaceful beauty and fragrant calm of that night. It was the last night before sorrow touched her life; and no life is ever quite the same again when once that cold, sanctifying touch has been laid upon it.”

“Secrets had an immense attraction to him, because he never could keep one, and he enjoyed the sort of unhallowed thrill he experienced when he went and told another animal, after having faithfully promised not to.”

“To try to be brave is to be brave.”

“During the fifteen minutes that followed, the proud and sensitive girl suffered a shame and pain which she never forgot. To others it might seem a ludicrous or trivial affair, but to her it was a hard experience, for during the twelve years of her life she had been governed by love alone”

“No space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunity misused”

“But really, Marilla, one can't stay sad very long in such an interesting world, can one?”

“Dear old world', she murmured, 'you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.”

“I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.”

“It takes two flints to make a fire.”

“He was consious of a thousand odours floating in the air, each one connected with a thousand thoughts, and hopes, and joys, and cares, long, long, forgotten.”

“Do you think amethysts can be the souls of good violets?”

“...a little "appreciation" sometimes does quite as much good as all the conscientious "bringing up" in the world.”

“Dear me! how happy and good we'd be, if we had no worries!”

“But, like all happiness, it did not last long.”

“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.”

“…in silence learned the sweet solace which affection administers to sorrow.”

“If life is often so hard as this, I don't see how we ever shall get through it.”

“…she was one of those happily created beings who please without effort, make friends everywhere, and take life so gracefully and easily that less fortunate souls are tempted to believe that such are born under a lucky star.”

“…to the inspiration of necessity, we owe half the wise, beautiful, and useful blessings of the world.”

“When we make little sacrifices we like to have them appreciated, at least.”

“I think she is growing up, and so begins to dream dreams, and have hopes and fears and fidgets, without knowing why or being able to explain them.”

“I hate ordinary people!”

“The dirt is picturesque, so I don't mind.”

“I'd rather take coffee than compliments just now.”

“Nothing seemed impossible in the beginning.”

“Some people seemed to get all sunshine, and some all shadow.”

“…on some occasions, women, like dreams, go by contraries.”

“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.”

“Oh, but there's such a difference between saying a thing yourself and hearing other people say it,' wailed Anne. 'You may know a thing is so, but you can't help hoping other people don't quite think it is.”

“But Anne with her elbows on the window sill, her soft cheek laid against her clasped hands, and her eyes filled with visions, looked out unheedingly across city roof and spire to that glorious dome of sunset sky and wove her dreams of a possible future from the golden tissue of youth's own optimism. All the Beyond was hers, with its possibilities lurking rosily in the oncoming years — each year a rose of promise to be woven into an immortal chaplet.”

“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?”

“The rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting.”

“She fell into the moody, miserable state of mind which often comes when strong wills have to yield to the inevitable.”