Louisa May Alcott Quotes - Page 8

To be strong, and beautiful, and go round making music all the time. Yes, she could do that, and with a very earnest prayer Polly asked for the strength of an upright soul, the beauty of a tender heart, the power to make her life a sweet and stirring song, helpful while it lasted, remembered when it died.

Youth, health and freedom were meant to be enjoyed and I want to try every pleasure before I am too old to enjoy them.

Elegance has a bad effect on my constitution.

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

Souls and bodies should go on together.

I will make a battering-ram of my head and make my way through this rough and tumble world.

Right Jo better be happy old maids than unhappy wives or unmaidenly girls running about to find husbands.

I'm perfectly miserable; but if you consider me presentable, I die happy.

The dirt is picturesque, so I don't mind.

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

Persuasive influences are better than any amount of moralizing.

…in silence learned the sweet solace which affection administers to sorrow.

The violin - that most human of all instruments.

…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.

Everybody has their days of misfortune.

I never knew how much like heaven this world could be, when two people love and live for one another!

Jo's breath gave out here, and wrapping her head in the paper, she bedewed her little story with a few natural tears, for to be independent and earn the praise of those she loved were the dearest wishes of her heart, and this seemed to be the first step toward that happy end.

Mrs. Jo did not mean the measles, but that more serious malady called love, which is apt to ravage communities, spring and autumn, when winter gayety and summer idleness produce whole bouquets of engagements, and set young people to pairing off like the birds.

Is it not meningitis?

…books are always good company if you have the right sort. Let me pick out some for you.' And Mrs. Jo made a bee-line to the well-laden shelves, which were the joy of her heart and the comfort of her life.

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

It is never too early to try and plant [good principles] in a child, and never too late to cultivate them in the most neglected person.

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

Good, old-fashioned ways keep hearts sweet, heads sane, hands busy.

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