Louisa May Alcott Quotes

Jo knew nothing about philosophy or metaphysics of any sort, but a curious excitement, half pleasurable, half painful, came over her, as she listened with a sense of being turned adrift into time and space, like a young balloon out on a holiday.

Louisa May Alcott

Mine first --mine last-- mine even in the grave!

Louisa May Alcott

One's outlook is a part of his virtue.

Louisa May Alcott

Fame is a pearl many dive for and only a few bring up. Even when they do it is not perfect and they sigh for more and lose better things in struggling for them.

Louisa May Alcott

I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.

Louisa May Alcott

A little kingdom I possess Where thoughts and feelings dwell And very hard the task I find Of governing it well.

Louisa May Alcott

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.

Louisa May Alcott

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

Louisa May Alcott

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.

Louisa May Alcott

I'm not afraid of storms for I'm learning how to sail my ship.

Louisa May Alcott

Have regular hours for work and play make each day both useful and pleasant and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful old age will bring few regrets and life will become a beautiful success.

Louisa May Alcott

I'm not afraid of storms for I'm learning how to sail my ship.

Louisa May Alcott

I resolved to take Fate by the throat and shake the living out of her.

Louisa May Alcott

Love is the only thing that we can carry with us when we go and it makes the end so easy.

Louisa May Alcott

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

Louisa May Alcott

Love is a great beautifier.

Louisa May Alcott

Love is the only thing we can carry with us when we go and it makes the end so easy.

Louisa May Alcott

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.

Louisa May Alcott

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

Louisa May Alcott

Stay is a charming word in a friend's vocabulary.

Louisa May Alcott

I consider it the best part of an education to have been born and brought up in the country

Louisa May Alcott

Debate is masculine conversation is feminine.

Louisa May Alcott

Let my name stand among those who are willing to bear ridicule and reproach for the truth's sake and so earn some right to rejoice when the victory is won.

Louisa May Alcott

Many can argue not many converse.

Louisa May Alcott

I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.

Louisa May Alcott

I keep turning over new leaves, and spoiling them, as I used to spoil my copybooks; and I make so many beginnings there never will be an end. (Jo March)

Louisa May Alcott

...freedom being the sauce best beloved by the boyish soul.

Louisa May Alcott

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

Louisa May Alcott

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

Louisa May Alcott

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.

Louisa May Alcott

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.

Louisa May Alcott

Dan clung to her in speechless gratitude, feeling the blessedness of mother love, — that divine gift which comforts, purifies, and strengthens all who seek it.

Louisa May Alcott

It’s bad enough to love someone who don’t love you, but to have them told of it is perfectly awful. It makes me wild just to think of it. Ah, Fan, I’m getting so ill tempered and envious and wicked, I don’t know what will happen to me. - Polly

Louisa May Alcott

Who are your heroes?" asked Jo."Grandfather and Napoleon.

Louisa May Alcott

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.

Louisa May Alcott

Jo's face was a study next day, for the secret rather weighed upon her, and she found it hard not to look mysterious and important. Meg observed it, but did not troubled herself to make inquiries, for she had learned that the best way to manage Jo was by the law of contraries, so she felt sure of being told everything if she did not ask.

Louisa May Alcott

…a woman's always safe and comfortable when a fellow's down on his luck.

Louisa May Alcott

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.

Louisa May Alcott

I don't like favors; they oppress and make me fell like a slave. I'd rather do everything for myself, and be perfectly independent.

Louisa May Alcott

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.

Louisa May Alcott

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.

Louisa May Alcott

Trifles show character

Louisa May Alcott

The more one gets the more one wants

Louisa May Alcott

Women work a good many miracles and I have a persuasion that they may preform even that of raising the standard of manhood by refusing to echo such sayings. Let the boys be boys the longer the better and let the young men sew their wild oats if they must, but mothers, sisters and friends may help to make the crop a small one and keep many tares from spoiling the harvest by believing and showing that they believe in the possibility of loyalty to the virtues which make men manliest in good women's eyes.

Louisa May Alcott

Ah! Thou gifest me such hope and courage, and I haf nothing to gif back but a full heart and these empty hands," cried the Professor, quite overcome.Jo never, never would learn to be proper, for when he said that as they stood upon the steps, she just put both hands into his, whispering tenderly, "Not empty now," and, stooping down, kissed her Friedrich under the umbrella.

Louisa May Alcott

It's highly virtuous to say we'll be good, but we can't do it all at once, and it takes a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together before some of us even get our feet set in the right way

Louisa May Alcott

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.

Louisa May Alcott

I almost wish I hadn't any conscience, it's 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 dreadfully particular about such things. -- Jo

Louisa May Alcott

On, I don't think I'm a genius!' cried Josie, growing calm and sober as she listened to the melodious voice and looked into the expressive face that filled her with confidence, so strong, sincere and kindly was it. 'I only want to find out if I have talent enough to go on, and after years of study be able to act well in any of the good plays people never tire of seeing. I don't expected to be a Mrs. Siddons or a Miss Cameron, much as I long to be; but it does seem as if I had something in me which can't come out in any way but this. When I act I'm perfectly happy. I seem to live, to be in my own world, and each new part is a new friend. I love Shakespeare, and am never tired of his splendid people. Of course I don't understand it all; but it's like being alone at night with the mountains and the stars, solemn and grand, and I try to imagine how it will look when the sun comes up, and all is glorious and clear to me. I can't see, but I feel the beauty, and long to express it.

Louisa May Alcott

It takes people a long time to learn the difference between talent and genius, especially ambitious young men and women.

Louisa May Alcott

…because talent isn't genius, and no amount of energy can make it so. I want to be great, or nothing.

Louisa May Alcott

As to the other three, if they had been perfection they would not have been real girls, and you could not have wept over their trials and laughed over their pleasures.

Louisa May Alcott

It does seem as if the more one gets the more one wants

Louisa May Alcott

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.

Louisa May Alcott

Boys don't gush, so I can stand it. The last time I let in a party of girls, one fell into my arms and said, "Darling, love me!" I wanted to shake her,' answered Mrs. Jo, wiping her pen with energy.

Louisa May Alcott

The rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting.

Louisa May Alcott

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

Louisa May Alcott

There are things that mothers can manage best when they do their duty.

Louisa May Alcott

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