“I think it would be worse to expect nothing than to be disappointed.”
Source: ANNE OF GREEN GABLES - Complete Collection: ALL 14 Books in One Volume (Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Rainbow Valley, The Story Girl, Chronicles of Avonlea and more): Including Letters and Autobiography of Lucy Maud Montgomery
“People who don't like cats always seem to think there is some peculiar virtue in not liking them.”
“Have you ever noticed that when people say it is their duty to tell you a certain thing you may prepare for something disagreeable? Why is it that they never seem to think it a duty to tell you the pleasant things they hear about you?”
Source: The Anne of Green Gables Chronicles (Annotated Edition)
“Fear is a confession of weakness. What you fear is stronger than you, or you think it is, else you wouldn't be afraid of it.”
Source: The Collected Works of Lucy Maud Montgomery: 20 Novels & 170+ Short Stories, Poems, Letters and Memoirs (Including The Complete Anne Shirley Series, Chronicles of Avonlea & Emily Starr Trilogy): Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of Windy Poplars, Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside, Emily of New Moon, The Story Girl, The Golden Road, Pat of Silver Bush, The Blue Castle & many more
“most people worry so much, they think you're not right if you don't worry.”
Source: The Collected Works of Lucy Maud Montgomery: 20 Novels & 170+ Short Stories, Poems, Letters and Memoirs (Including The Complete Anne Shirley Series, Chronicles of Avonlea & Emily Starr Trilogy): Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of Windy Poplars, Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside, Emily of New Moon, The Story Girl, The Golden Road, Pat of Silver Bush, The Blue Castle & many more
“An old house with its windows gone always makes me think of something dead with its eyes picked out.”
Source: Anne of Avonlea
“Folks that has brought up children know that there's no hard and fast method in the world that'll suit every child. But them as never have think it's all as plain and easy as Rule of Three—just set your three terms down so fashion, and the sum'll work out correct.”
Source: Anne of Green Gables
“Whenever you looked forward to anything pleasant you were sure to be more or less disappointed . . . perhaps that is true. But there is a good side to it too. The bad things don't always come up to your expectations either . . . they nearly always turn out ever so much better than you think.”
Source: The Anne of Green Gables Chronicles (Annotated Edition)
“There be three gentle and goodlie things, To be here, To be together, And to think well of one another.”
Source: L. M. MONTGOMERY – Ultimate Collection: 20 Novels & 170+ Short Stories, Poetry, Letters and Autobiography (Including The Complete Anne of Green Gables Series & Emily Starr Trilogy): Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, The Blue Castle, Rilla of Ingleside, Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs, The Golden Road, Mistress Pat, Chronicles of Avonlea, Kilmeny of the Orchard and many more
“It was in the spring that Josephine and I had first loved each other, or, at least, had first come into the full knowledge that we loved. I think that we must have loved each other all our lives, and that each succeeding spring was a word in the revelation of that love, not to be understood until, in the fullness of time, the whole sentence was written out in that most beautiful of all beautiful springs.”
Source: ANNE OF GREEN GABLES - Complete Collection: ALL 14 Books in One Volume (Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Rainbow Valley, The Story Girl, Chronicles of Avonlea and more): Including Letters and Autobiography of Lucy Maud Montgomery
“There's such a lot of different Annes in me. I sometimes think that is why I'm such a troublesome person. If I was just the one Anne it would be ever so much more comfortable, but then it wouldn't be half so interesting.”
Source: The Complete Novels of Lucy Maud Montgomery - 20 Titles in One Volume: Including Anne of Green Gables Series, Emily Starr Trilogy, The Blue Castle, The Story Girl & Pat of Silver Bush Series: Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Ingleside, Anne's House of Dreams, Rainbow Valley, Emily of New Moon, The Golden Road, Magic for Marigold, A Tangled Web, Jane of Lantern Hill & many more
“Without shedding of blood there is no anything. Everything, it seems to me, has to be purchased by selfsacrifice. Our race has marked every step of its painful ascent with blood. And now torrents of it must flow again.”
“A broken heart in real life isn't half as dreadful as it is in books. It's a good deal like a bad tooth, though you won't think THAT a very romantic simile. It takes spells of aching and gives you a sleepless night now and then, but between times it lets you enjoy life and dreams and echoes and peanut candy as if there were nothing the matter with it.”
Source: ANNE SHIRLEY Complete Series - ALL 14 Books in One Volume: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Rainbow Valley, The Story Girl, Chronicles of Avonlea and more: Including the Memoirs & Letters of Lucy Maud Montgomery
“They keep coming up new all the time - things to perplex you, you know. You settle one question and there's another right after. There are so many things to be thought over and decided when you're beginning to grow up. It keeps me busy all the time thinking them over and deciding what's right. It's a serious thing to grow up, isn't it, Marilla?”
Source: The Complete Novels of Lucy Maud Montgomery - 20 Titles in One Volume: Including Anne of Green Gables Series, Emily Starr Trilogy, The Blue Castle, The Story Girl & Pat of Silver Bush Series: Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Ingleside, Anne's House of Dreams, Rainbow Valley, Emily of New Moon, The Golden Road, Magic for Marigold, A Tangled Web, Jane of Lantern Hill & many more
“Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?But am I talking too much? People are always telling me I do. Would you rather I didn't talk? If you say so I'll stop. I can STOP when I make up my mind to it, although it's difficult.”
Source: L. M. MONTGOMERY – Premium Collection: Novels, Short Stories, Poetry & Autobiography (Including Anne Shirley Novels, Chronicles of Avonlea & The Story Girl Series): Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne's House of Dreams, Rainbow Valley, The Golden Road, Kilmeny of the Orchard, The Watchman, Songs of the Sea & many more
“A girl who would fall in love so easily or want a man to love her so easily would probably get over it just as quickly, very little the worse for wear. On the contrary, a girl who would take love seriously would probably be a good while finding herself in love and would require something beyond mere friendly attentions from a man before she would think of him in that light.”
Source: My dear Mr. M.: letters to G.B. MacMillan from L.M. Montgomery
“There was something in her movements that made you think she never walked but always danced.”
Source: The Complete Novels of Lucy Maud Montgomery - 20 Titles in One Volume: Including Anne of Green Gables Series, Emily Starr Trilogy, The Blue Castle, The Story Girl & Pat of Silver Bush Series: Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Ingleside, Anne's House of Dreams, Rainbow Valley, Emily of New Moon, The Golden Road, Magic for Marigold, A Tangled Web, Jane of Lantern Hill & many more
“She wanted to be alone - to think things out - to adjust herself, if it were possible, to the new world in which she seemed to have been transplanted with a suddenness and completeness that left her half bewildered to her own identity.”
Source: L. M. MONTGOMERY – Ultimate Collection: 20 Novels & 170+ Short Stories, Poetry, Letters and Autobiography (Including The Complete Anne of Green Gables Series & Emily Starr Trilogy): Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, The Blue Castle, Rilla of Ingleside, Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs, The Golden Road, Mistress Pat, Chronicles of Avonlea, Kilmeny of the Orchard and many more
“[Anne, commenting on city life] "I think I would probably come to the conclusion that I'd like it for a while... but in the end, I'd still prefer the sound of the wind in the firs across the brook more than the tinkling of crystal.”
“Ruby Gillis thinks of nothing but young men, and the older she gets the worse she is. Young men are all very well in their place, but it doesn't do to drag them into everything, does it?”
Source: ANNE OF GREEN GABLES - Complete Collection: ALL 14 Books in One Volume (Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Rainbow Valley, The Story Girl, Chronicles of Avonlea and more): Including Letters and Autobiography of Lucy Maud Montgomery
“You're not eating anything," said Marilla sharply, eying her as if it were a serious shortcoming. Anne sighed. I can't. I'm in the depths of despair. Can you eat when you are in the depths of despair?" I've never been in the depths of despair, so I can't say," responded Marilla. Weren't you? Well, did you ever try to IMAGINE you were in the depths of despair?" No, I didn't." Then I don't think you can understand what it's like. It's very uncomfortable a feeling indeed.”
Source: ANNE OF GREEN GABLES - Complete Collection: ALL 14 Books in One Volume (Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Rainbow Valley, The Story Girl, Chronicles of Avonlea and more): Including Letters and Autobiography of Lucy Maud Montgomery
“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”
Source: L. M. MONTGOMERY – Ultimate Collection: 20 Novels & 170+ Short Stories, Poetry, Letters and Autobiography (Including The Complete Anne of Green Gables Series & Emily Starr Trilogy): Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, The Blue Castle, Rilla of Ingleside, Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs, The Golden Road, Mistress Pat, Chronicles of Avonlea, Kilmeny of the Orchard and many more
“And he wrote, "When the moon rises tonight think of me and I'll think of you.”
Source: L. M. MONTGOMERY – Ultimate Collection: 20 Novels & 170+ Short Stories, Poetry, Letters and Autobiography (Including The Complete Anne of Green Gables Series & Emily Starr Trilogy): Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, The Blue Castle, Rilla of Ingleside, Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs, The Golden Road, Mistress Pat, Chronicles of Avonlea, Kilmeny of the Orchard and many more
“Do you know what I think Mayflowers are, Marilla? I think they must be the souls of the flowers that died last summer, and this is their heaven.”
Source: THE TALES OF AVONLEA - Complete Collection: 16 Novels & 27 Short Stories (Including Anne Shirley Series, Chronicles of Prince Edward Island, The Story Girl & Emily Starr Trilogy)
“I don't know, I don't want to talk as much. (...) It's nicer to think dear, pretty thoughts and keep them in one's heart, like treasures. I don't like to have them laughed at or wondered over.”
Source: ANNE SHIRLEY Complete Series - ALL 14 Books in One Volume: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Rainbow Valley, The Story Girl, Chronicles of Avonlea and more: Including the Memoirs & Letters of Lucy Maud Montgomery
“Oh, sometimes I think it is of no use to make friends. They only go out of your life after awhile and leave a hurt that is worse than the emptiness before they came.”
Source: Anne of Green Gables Collection: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of the Island, and More Anne Shirley Books
“At seventeen dreams DO satisfy because you think the realities are waiting for you farther on.”
Source: The Anne of Green Gables Chronicles (Annotated Edition)
“I wouldn't want to marry anybody who was wicked, but I think I'd like it if he could be wicked and wouldn't.”
Source: Anne of Green Gables Collection: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of the Island, and More Anne Shirley Books
“Do you think amethysts can be the souls of good violets?”
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've always loved the night and I'll like lying awake and thinking over everything in life, past, present and to come. Especially to come.”
Source: The Anne of Green Gables Chronicles (Annotated Edition)
“Comedy and tragedy are so mixed up in life, Gilbert. The only thing that haunts me is that tale of the two who lived together fifty years and hated each other all that time. I can't believe they really did. Somebody has said that 'hate is only love that has missed its way.' I feel sure that under the hatred they really loved each other . . . just as I really loved you all those years I thought I hated you . . . and I think death would show it to them. I'm glad I found out in life.”
Source: THE TALES OF AVONLEA - Complete Collection: 16 Novels & 27 Short Stories (Including Anne Shirley Series, Chronicles of Prince Edward Island, The Story Girl & Emily Starr Trilogy)
“Anyhow, there'll be plenty of jam in heaven, that's one comfort, he said complacently. Perhaps there will...if we want it, she said, But what makes you think so? Why, it's in the catechism, said Davy. Oh, no, there is nothing like that in the catechism, Davy. But I tell you there is, persisted Davy. It was in that question Marilla taught me last Sunday. Why should we love God? It says, Because he makes preserves, and redeems us. Preserves is just a holy way of saying jam.”
“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.”
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 think,' concluded Anne, hitting on a very vital truth, 'that we always love best the people who need us.”
Source: Anne of Green Gables Collection: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of the Island, and More Anne Shirley Books
“If a kiss could be seen I think it would look like a violet,' said Priscilla. Anne glowed. 'I'm so glad you spoke that thought, Priscilla, instead of just thinking it and keeping it to yourself. This world would be a much more interesting place…although it is very interesting, anyhow…if people spoke out their real thoughts.”
Source: L. M. MONTGOMERY – Premium Collection: Novels, Short Stories, Poetry & Autobiography (Including Anne Shirley Novels, Chronicles of Avonlea & The Story Girl Series): Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne's House of Dreams, Rainbow Valley, The Golden Road, Kilmeny of the Orchard, The Watchman, Songs of the Sea & many more
“I wonder what a soul…a person's soul…would look like,' said Priscilla dreamily. 'Like that, I should think,' answered Anne, pointing to a radiance of sifted sunlight streaming through a birch tree. 'Only with shape and features of course. I like to fancy souls as being made of light. And some are all shot through with rosy stains and quivers…and some have a soft glitter like moonlight on the sea…and some are pale and transparent like mist at dawn.”
Source: The Complete Novels of Lucy Maud Montgomery - 20 Titles in One Volume: Including Anne of Green Gables Series, Emily Starr Trilogy, The Blue Castle, The Story Girl & Pat of Silver Bush Series: Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Ingleside, Anne's House of Dreams, Rainbow Valley, Emily of New Moon, The Golden Road, Magic for Marigold, A Tangled Web, Jane of Lantern Hill & many more
“It takes all sorts of people to make a world, as I've often heard, but I think there are some who could be spared,' Anne told her reflection in the east gable mirror that night.”
Source: Anne of Green Gables Collection: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of the Island, and More Anne Shirley Books
“She looks just as music sounds, I think,' answered Anne.”
Source: The Anne of Green Gables Chronicles (Annotated Edition)
“I don't really care what people think about me if they don't let me see it.”
Source: The Collected Works of Lucy Maud Montgomery: 20 Novels & 170+ Short Stories, Poems, Letters and Memoirs (Including The Complete Anne Shirley Series, Chronicles of Avonlea & Emily Starr Trilogy): Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of Windy Poplars, Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside, Emily of New Moon, The Story Girl, The Golden Road, Pat of Silver Bush, The Blue Castle & many more
“That's a lovely idea, Diana,' said Anne enthusiastically. 'Living so that you beautify your name, even if it wasn't beautiful to begin with…making it stand in people's thoughts for something so lovely and pleasant that they never think of it by itself. Thank you, Diana.”
Source: The Anne of Green Gables Chronicles (Annotated Edition)
“Most of the trouble in life comes from misunderstanding, I think,' said Anne.”
Source: Anne of Green Gables Collection: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of the Island, and More Anne Shirley Books
“But just think what a dull world it would be if everyone was sensible,' pleaded Anne.”
Source: L. M. MONTGOMERY – Premium Collection: Novels, Short Stories, Poetry & Autobiography (Including Anne Shirley Novels, Chronicles of Avonlea & The Story Girl Series): Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne's House of Dreams, Rainbow Valley, The Golden Road, Kilmeny of the Orchard, The Watchman, Songs of the Sea & many more
“Even when I'm alone I have real good company — dreams and imaginations and pretendings. I like to be alone now and then, just to think over things and taste them. But I love friendships — and nice, jolly little times with people.”
Source: Anne's House of Dreams
“Isn't it terrible the way some unworthy folks are loved, while others that deserve it far more, you'd think, never get much affection?”
Source: Anne's House of Dreams
“It is never quite safe to think we have done with life. When we imagine we have finished our story fate has a trick of turning the page and showing us yet another chapter.”
Source: L. M. MONTGOMERY – Premium Collection: Novels, Short Stories, Poetry & Autobiography (Including Anne Shirley Novels, Chronicles of Avonlea & The Story Girl Series): Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne's House of Dreams, Rainbow Valley, The Golden Road, Kilmeny of the Orchard, The Watchman, Songs of the Sea & many more
“It's good advice, but I expect it will be hard to follow; good advice is apt to be, I think.”
Source: L. M. MONTGOMERY – Premium Collection: Novels, Short Stories, Poetry & Autobiography (Including Anne Shirley Novels, Chronicles of Avonlea & The Story Girl Series): Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne's House of Dreams, Rainbow Valley, The Golden Road, Kilmeny of the Orchard, The Watchman, Songs of the Sea & many more
“There is no such thing as freedom on earth," he said. "Only different kinds of bondages. And comparative bondages. YOU think you are free now because you've escaped from a peculiarly unbreakable kind of bondage. But are you? You love me - THAT'S a bondage.”
“"Oh, Marilla, looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them," exclaimed Anne. "You mayn't get the things themselves; but nothing can prevent you from having the fun of looking forward to them. Mrs. Lynde says, 'Blessed are they who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed.' But I think it would be worse to expect nothing than to be disappointed.".”
Source: Anne of Green Gables
“I was very much provoked. Of course, I knew there are no fairies; but that needn't prevent my thinking there is.”
Source: L. M. MONTGOMERY – Ultimate Collection: 20 Novels & 170+ Short Stories, Poetry, Letters and Autobiography (Including The Complete Anne of Green Gables Series & Emily Starr Trilogy): Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, The Blue Castle, Rilla of Ingleside, Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs, The Golden Road, Mistress Pat, Chronicles of Avonlea, Kilmeny of the Orchard and many more
“It always amazes me to look at the little, wrinkled brown seeds and think of the rainbows in 'em," said Captain Jim. "When I ponder on them seeds I don't find it nowise hard to believe that we've got souls that'll live in other worlds. You couldn't hardly believe there was life in them tiny things, some no bigger than grains of dust, let alone colour and scent, if you hadn't seen the miracle, could you?”
Source: L. M. MONTGOMERY – Premium Collection: Novels, Short Stories, Poetry & Autobiography (Including Anne Shirley Novels, Chronicles of Avonlea & The Story Girl Series): Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne's House of Dreams, Rainbow Valley, The Golden Road, Kilmeny of the Orchard, The Watchman, Songs of the Sea & many more