"The small hopes and plans and pleasures of children should be tenderly respected by grown-up people, and never rudely thwarted or ridiculed."

"Proved that woman isn't a half but a whole human being, and can stand alone."

"I was never like the rest of you, making plans about the great things I'd do, I never saw myself as anything much, just shy, stupid little Beth, who's only use was at home. Why does everyone want to go away? I love being home, but I don't like being left behind. Now I'm the one going ahead, No one can stop God if He wants me, But I'm afraid I shall be homesick for you... even in heaven."

"This love of money is the curse of American, and for the sake of it men will sell honor and honesty, till we don't know whom to trust, and it is only a genius like Agassiz who dares to say, 'I cannot waste my time in getting rich,'" said Mrs. Jessie sadly."

"That was all I wanted!" whispered Polly, in a tone which caused him to feel that the race of angels was not entirely extinct."

"Housekeeping ain't no joke."

"Be worthy love, and love will come."

"Yet that is considered an excellent school, and I dare say it would be if the benighted lady did not think it necessary to cram her pupils like Thanksgiving turkeys, instead of feeding them in a natural and wholesome way. It is the fault with most American schools, and the poor little heads will go on aching till we learn better."

"I've got the key to my castle in the air, but whether I can unlock the door remains to be seen."

"Then it was that Jo, living in the darkened room, with that suffering little sister always before her eyes and that pathetic voice sounding in her ears, learned to see the beauty and the sweetness of Beth's nature, to feel how deep and tender a place she filled in all hearts, and to acknowledge the worth of Beth's unselfish ambition to live for others, and make home happy by that exercise of those simple virtues which all may possess, and which all should love and value more than talent, wealth, or beauty."

"Jo carried her love of liberty and hate of conventionalities to such and unlimited extent that she naturally found herself worsted in an argument."

"Prosperity suits some people, and they blossom best in a glow of sunshine; others need the shade, and are the sweeter for a touch of frost."

"We don't choose our talents, but we needn't hide them in a napkin because they are not just what we want."

"I want to be great or nothing. I won't be a commonplace dauber so I don't intend to try any more."

"I have nothing to give but my heart so full and these empty hands.""They're not empty now."

"People cannot be moulded like clay."

"She was one of those happily created beings who please without effort make friends everywhere and take life so gracefully and easily that less fortunate souls are tempted to believe that such are born under a lucky star."

"She preferred imaginary heroes to real ones, because when tired of them, the former could be shut up in the tin kitchen till called for, and the latter were less manageable."

"Dear me! how happy and good we'd be, if we had no worries!"

"Far away in the sunshine are my highest inspirations. I many not reach them but I can look up and see the beauty believe in them and try to follow where they lead."

"It takes so little to make a child happy, that it is a pity in a world full of sunshine and pleasant things, that there should be any wistful faces, empty hands, or lonely little hearts."

"You can go through the world with your elbows out and your nose in the air, and call it independence, if you like. That's not my way."

"Life is my college. May I graduate well and earn some honors!"

"In her secret soul, however, she decided that politics were as bad as mathematics, and that the mission of politicians seemed to be calling each other names."

"It is a merciful provision my dears, for it takes three or four women to get each man into, through, and out of the world. You are costly creatures, boys, and it is well that mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters love their duty and do it so well, or you would perish off the face of the earth,' said Mrs. Jo solemnly."

"I can get on with wild beasts first-rate, but men rile me awfully."

"And mother-like, Mrs. Jo forgot the threatened chastisement in tender lamentations over the happy scapegrace."

"Life and love are very precious when both are in full bloom."

"Nothing remained but loneliness and grief."

"I don't think secrets agree with me, I feel rumpled up in mind since you told me that."

"Marriage, they say, halves one's rights and doubles one's duties."

"Love Jo all your days, if you choose, but don't let it spoil you, for it's wicked to throw away so many good gifts because you can't have the one you want."

"I almost wish I hadn't any conscience; its so inconvenient. If I didn't care about doing right and didn't feel uncomfortable when doing wrong, I should get on capitally. I can't help wishing sometimes that Father and Mother hadn't been so particular about such things. Ah Joe, instead of wishing that, thank God that Father and Mother were particular and pity from your heart those who have no such guardians to hedge them round with principles that may seem like prison walls to impatient youth, but which will prove sure foundations to build character upon in womanhood."

"Trifles show character."

"She rejoiced as only mothers can in the good fortunes of their children."

"Painful as it may be, a significant emotional event can be the catalyst for choosing a direction that serves us - and those around us - more effectively. Look for the learning."

"It takes two flints to make a fire."

"Don't try to make me grow up before my time."

"Madam de Stael pronounced architecture to be frozen music so is statuary crystalized spirituality."

"Ridicule is often harder to bear than self-denial."

"Conceit spoils the finest genius. There is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long; even if it is, the consciousness of possessing and using it well should satisfy one, and the great charm of all power is modesty."

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

"Mothers have need of sharp eyes and discreet tongueswhen they have girls to manage."

"Girls are so queer you never know what they mean. They say No when they mean Yes, and drive a man out of his wits for the fun of it."

"It's bad enough to be a girl, anyway, when I like boys' games and work and manners!"

"The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely."

"I like good strong words that mean something."

"Debate is masculine conversation is feminine."

"Some books are so familiar, reading them is like being home again."

"Jo couldn't even lose her heart in a decorous manner, but sternly tried to quench her feelings, and failing to do so, led a somewhat agitated life. She was mortally afraid of being laughed at for surrendering, after her many and vehement declarations of independence."