Louisa May Alcott Quotes

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 like to help women help themselves, as that is, in my opinion, the best way to settle the woman question. Whatever we can do and do well we have a right to, and I don't think any one will deny us.

Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. "It's so dreadful to be poor!" sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress. "I don't think it's fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all," added little Amy, with an injured sniff. "We've got Father and Mother, and each other," said Beth contentedly from her corner.

... for it is the small temptations which undermine integrity unless we watch and pray and never think them too trivial to be resisted.

I like good strong words that mean something.

Six weeks is a long time to wait, and a still longer time for a girl to keep a secret.

Go out more, keep cheerful as well as busy, for you are the sunshine-maker of the family, and if you get dismal there is no fair weather.

Nothing is impossible to a determined woman.

[She was] kept there in the sort of embrace a man gives to the dearest creature the world holds for him.

But many of the bravest never are known, and get no praise. That does not lessen their beauty.

Men are always ready to die for us, but not to make our lives worth having. Cheap sentiment and bad logic.

People don't have fortunes left them in that style nowadays; men have to work and women to marry for money. It's a dreadfully unjust world.

Work is and always has been my salvation and I thank the Lord for it.

Well, if I can't be happy, I can be useful, perhaps.

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 burdens

Poor dull Concord. Nothing colorful has come through here since the Redcoats.

Wealth is certainly a most desirable thing, but poverty has its sunny side, and one of the sweet uses of adversity is the genuine satisfaction which comes from hearty work of head or hand, and to the inspiration of necessity, we owe half the wise, beautiful, and useful blessings of the world.

To me, love isn't all. I must look up, not down, trust and honor with my whole heart, and find strenght and integrity to lean on

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.

Love is apt to make lunatics of even men and saints.

One of the sweet things about pain and sorrow is that they show us how well we are loved, how much kindness there is in the world, and how easily we can make others happy in the same way when they need help and sympathy.

The humblest tasks get beautified if loving hands do them.

We'll all grow up Meg, no pretending we won't.

She had a womanly instinct that clothes possess an influence more powerful over many than the worth of character or the magic of manners.

A child her wayward pencil drew On margins of her book; Garlands of flower, dancing elves, Bud, butterfly, and brook, Lessons undone, and plum forgot, Seeking with hand and heart The teacher whom she learned to love Before she knew t'was Art.

A little kingdom I possess, where thoughts and feelings dwell; And very hard the task I find of governing it well.

Is it not meningitis?

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

Dear me, if men and women would only trust, understand, and help one another as my children do, what a capital place the world would be!

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.

In the midst of her tears came the thought, "When people are in danger, they ask God to save them;" and, slipping down upon her knees, she said her prayer as she had never said it before, for when human help seems gone we turn to Him as naturally as lost children cry to their father, and feel sure that he will hear and answer them.

Fame is a very good thing to have in the house, but cash is more convenient.

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.

I am lonely, sometimes, but I dare say it's good for me.

Rule yourself. Love your neighbor. Do the duty that lies nearest you.

Many wise and true sermons are preached us everyday by unconscious ministers in street, school, office, or home; even a fair table may become a pulpit, if it can offer the good and helpful words which are never out of season.

It takes two flints to make a fire.

I hate ordinary people!

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

Jo's ambition was to do something very splendid; what it was she had no idea, as yet, but left it for time to tell her.

I never wanted to go away, and the hard part now is the leaving you all. I'm not afraid, but it seems as if I should be homesick for you even in heaven.

I asked for bread, and I got a stone in the shape of a pedestal.

John Brooke is acting dreadfully, and Meg likes it!

Power is a dangerous thing. Be careful that you don't abuse it or let it make a tyrant of you.

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

... because I have fallen in love with so many pretty girls and never once the least bit with any man.

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

Life is my university, and I hope to graduate from it with some distinction.