Don't laugh at the spinsters, dear girls, for often very tender, tragic romances are hidden away in the hearts that beat so quietly under the sober gowns, and many silent sacrifices of youth, health, ambition, love itself, make the faded faces beautiful in God's sight. Even the sad, sour sisters should be kindly dealt with, because they have missed the sweetest part of life, if for no other reason.

I'm tired of praise; and love is very sweet, when it is simple and sincere like this.

Cast your bread upon the waters, and after many days it will come back buttered.

We can't any of us do all we would like, but we can do our best for every case that comes to us, and that helps amazingly.

Where the heart is the mind works best.

Now and then, in this workaday world, things do happen in the delightful storybook fashion, and what a comfort that is.

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.