The collection / 172 fragments

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Passages, proverbs, and questions carried across the ages.

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172 results · Page 6 of 8Play this collection ▷

01c. 1860 AD

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 / quote

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02c. 1860 AD

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 / quote

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03c. 1860 AD

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 / quote

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04c. 1860 AD

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 / quote

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05c. 1860 AD

The more one gets the more one wants

Louisa May Alcott / quote

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06c. 1860 AD

Trifles show character

Louisa May Alcott / quote

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07c. 1860 AD

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 / quote

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08c. 1860 AD

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 / quote

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09c. 1860 AD

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 / quote

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10c. 1860 AD

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 / quote

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11c. 1860 AD

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

Louisa May Alcott / quote

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12c. 1860 AD

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 / quote

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13c. 1860 AD

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 / quote

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14c. 1860 AD

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

Louisa May Alcott / quote

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15c. 1860 AD

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 / quote

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16c. 1860 AD

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 / quote

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17c. 1860 AD

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 / quote

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18c. 1860 AD

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 / quote

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19c. 1860 AD

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

Louisa May Alcott / quote

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20c. 1860 AD

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

Louisa May Alcott / quote

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21c. 1860 AD

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

Louisa May Alcott / quote

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22c. 1860 AD

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 / quote

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23c. 1860 AD

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

Louisa May Alcott / quote

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24c. 1860 AD

Many can argue not many converse.

Louisa May Alcott / quote

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