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.

I love my liberty too well to be in a hurry to give it up for any mortal man.

Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents.

…it is so much better to work for others than for one's self alone.

I’m not like the rest of you; I never made any plans about what I’d do when I grew up; I never thought of being married, as you did. I couldn’t seem to imagine myself anything but stupid little Beth, trotting about at home, of no use anywhere but there. I never wanted to go away, and the hard part now is leaving you all. I’m not afraid, but it seems as if I should be homesick for you even in heaven.

Oh dear, life is pretty tough sometimes, isn't it?

A time will come when you will find that in gaining a brief joy you have lost your peace forever.