Louisa May Alcott
We'll all grow up someday, Meg, we might as well know what we want. ~Amy March~Collection: Growing Up
Now and then, in this workaday world, things do happen in the delightful storybook fashion, and what a comfort that is.Collection: Fashion
Jo's eyes sparkled, for it's always pleasant to be believed in; and a friend's praise is always sweeter than a dozen newspaper puffs.Collection: Eye
Now we are expected to be as wise as men who have had generations of all the help there is, and we scarcely anything.Collection: Wise
I put in my list all the busy, useful independent spinsters I know, for liberty is a better husband than love to many of us.Collection: Husband
Youth, health and freedom were meant to be enjoyed and I want to try every pleasure before I am too old to enjoy them.Collection: Trying
Elegance has a bad effect on my constitution.Collection: Constitution
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.Collection: Tongue
He looked at her an instant, for the effect of the graceful girlish figure with pale, passionate face and dark eyes full of sorrow, pride and resolution was wonderfully enhanced by the gloom of the great room, and glimpses of a gathering storm in the red autumn sky.Collection: Eye
I'd have a stable full of Arabian steeds, rooms piled with books, and I'd write out of a magic inkstand, so that my works should be as famous as Laurie's music. I want to do something splendid before I go into my castle,-something heroic, or wonderful,-that won't be forgotten after I'm dead. I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it, and mean to astonish you all, some day. I think I shall write books, and get rich and famous; that would suit me, so that is my favorite dream.Collection: Dream
I can get on with wild beasts first-rate; but men rile me awfully.Collection: Men
We don't choose our talents; but we needn't hide them in a napkin because they are not just what we want.Collection: Want
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.Collection: Fashion
It's a great comfort to have an artistic sister.Collection: Comfort
Laurie, you're an angel! How shall I ever thank you?" "Fly at me again. I rather liked it," said Laurie, looking mischievous, a thing he had not done for a fortnight.Collection: Angel
I will make a battering-ram of my head and make my way through this rough and tumble world.Collection: Rams
We'll all grow up Meg, no pretending we won't.Collection: Growing Up
Self-pity in its early stages is as snug as a feather mattress. Only when it hardens does it become uncomfortable.Collection: Strong
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.Collection: Mother
…men never forgive like women.Collection: Men
…on some occasions, women, like dreams, go by contraries.Collection: Dream
Love is apt to make lunatics of even men and saints.Collection: Love Is
Souls and bodies should go on together.Collection: Soul And Body
Sympathy is a sweet thing.Collection: Sympathy
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.Collection: Gratitude
Liberty is a better husband than love to many of us.Collection: Husband
Nothing seemed impossible in the beginning.Collection: Impossible
it was easier to do a friendly thing than it was to stay and be thanked for it.Collection: Friendly
Young people think they never can change, but they do in the most wonderful manner, and very few die of broken hearts.Collection: Heart
If people really want to go, and really try all their lives, I think they will get in; for I don't believe there are any locks on that door, or any guards at the gate. I always imagine it is as it is in the picture, where the shining ones stretch out their hands to welcome poor Christian as he comes up from the river.Collection: Christian
I make so many beginnings there never will be an end.Collection: Ends
Girls could do most things as well as boys, and some things better.Collection: Girl
Love is a beautifier.Collection: Love Is
I think immortality is the passing of a soul through many lives or experiences, and such as are truly lived, used and learned, help on to the next, each growing richer, happier and higher, carrying with it only the real memories of what has gone before.Collection: Death
Back to him she would never go, but in her lonely life still lived the sweet memory of that happy time when she believed in him and he was all in all to her.Collection: Lonely
...the love, respect, and confidence of my children was the sweetest reward I could receive for my efforts to be the woman I would have them copy.Collection: Children
…proved that woman isn't a half but a whole human being, and can stand alone.Collection: Half
…to the inspiration of necessity, we owe half the wise, beautiful, and useful blessings of the world.Collection: Beautiful
When Jo's conservative sister Meg says she must turn up her hair now that she is a "young lady," Jo shouts, "I'm not! and if turning up my hair makes me one, I'll wear it in two tails till I'm twenty.... I hate to think I've got to grow up, and be Miss March, and wear long gowns, and look as prim as a China aster! It's bad enough to be a girl anyway, when I like boys' games and work and manners! I can't get over my disappointment in not being a boy; and it's worse than ever now, for I'm dying to go and fight with Papa, and I can only stay at home and knit, like a poky old woman.Collection: Girl
I went [to war] because I couldn't help it. I didn't want the glory or the pay; I wanted the right thing done.Collection: War
...and clung more closely to the dear human love, from which our Father never means us to be weaned, but through which He draws us closer to Himself.Collection: Father
You may try your experiment for a week and see how you like it. I think by Saturday night you will find that all play and no work is as bad as all work and no playCollection: Night
Let us be elegant or die! --AmyCollection: Amy
People cannot be molded like clay.Collection: People
Woman work a great many miracles.Collection: Miracle
But please hug and kiss me, everyone, and don't mind my dress, I want a great many crumples of this sort put into it today.Collection: Kissing
Mothers can forgive anything!Collection: Mother
I may be strong-minded, but no one can say I'm out of my sphere now, for woman's special mission is supposed to be drying tears and bearing burdensCollection: Strong
…I can't help seeing that you are very lonely, and sometimes there is a hungry look in your eyes that goes to my heart.Collection: Lonely