Quotes from Louisa May Alcott

She began to see that character is a better possession than money, rank, intellect, or beauty, and to feel that if greatness is what a wise man has defined it to be, 'truth, reverence, and good will'

Ah, but it wasn't all right, and Jo did mind, for while the curly head lay on her arm a minute after her hard answer, she felt as if she had stabbed her dearest friend, and when he left her without a look behind him, she knew that the boy Laurie never would come again.

She's right; the lad is lonely. I'll see what these little girls can do for him, thought Mr. Laurence, as he looked and listened. He liked Jo, for her odd, blunt ways suited him; and she seemed to understand the boy almost as well as if she had been one herself.

Don't go to school, I'm a businessman—girl, I mean.

I'll let my castle go

Amo-te desde que te conheço, Jo; não o consigo evitar, tens sido tão boa para mim. Tentei demonstrar-to, mas não me deixaste; tens mesmo de ouvir e dar-me uma resposta, pois não posso continuar assim durante mais tempo.

Dizes isso agora, mas há de chegar uma altura em que irás gostar de alguém e irás amá-lo profundamente e viver e morrer por ele. Eu sei que sim, tu és assim, e serei obrigado a assistir a tudo isso.

I rather like it, for it is honest, and no malice or mischief is hidden behind it. I always distrust those smooth, sweet voices; they are insincere. I like a full, clear tone; sharp, if you please, but decided and true.

Rereading books is like visiting old friends.

Aún tenía que descubrir que el dinero no sirve para comprar el refinamiento, que la posición social no siempre es sinónimo de nobleza y que la buena educación se nota aunque la persona tenga que hacer frente a carencias

Afrontar la crítica es la mejor prueba para el trabajo porque permite descubrir virtudes y defectos insospechados, además de que sirve de guía para mejorar en la siguiente ocasión.

Almost inaudible was the low, reluctant, answer, so low that she thought the old man had not heard it and was about to speak again when a burst of exultant laughter startled her like a thunderclap, the curtain was pushed aside and through the grating looked the dark face of Phillip Tempest!

Yes! a gay life and a short one, then out with the lights and down with the curtain!

The more proposals, the more credit. Fan says Trix always asks when she comes home after the summer excursions, how many birds have you bagged as if men were partridges. What wicked creatures we are! Some of us at least. I wonder why such a love of conquest was put into us? Mother says a great deal of it is owing to bad education nowadays, but some girls seem born for the express purpose of making trouble, and would manage to do it, if they lived in a howling wilderness.

for the homeliest tasks get beautified if loving hands do them

Rechazar todos los regalos que nos brinda la vida porque no nos da el que queremos es una mezquindad.

I've had lots of troubles, so I write jolly tales.

If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative, I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that's all that you really are. Time erodes all such beauty, but what it cannot diminish is the wonderful workings of your mind: Your humor, your kindness, and your moral courage

Su corazón recibió las enseñas que más necesitaba: la paciencia, que aprendió mediante lecciones tan dulces que era imposible no las asimilara; la caridad por todos, que un alma buena es siempre capaz de perdonar y olvidar cualquier afrenta; la lealtad hacia el deber, que hace más llevadera la tarea más dura, y la fe sincera, que no conoce el miedo y confía sin albergar dudas.

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

Dear, how charming! I hope I shall go abroad some day, but I'd rather go to Rome than the row, said Amy, who had not the remotest idea what the Row was and wouldn't have asked for the world.

My sister Beth is a very fastidious girl, when she likes to be, said Amy, well pleased at Beth's success. She meant `fascinating', but as Grace didn't know the exact meaning of either word, fastidious sounded well and made a good impression.

Even the swift needle charmed him, the little brooch which rose and fell with her quiet breath, the plain work she did, and the tidy way she gathered her bits of thread into a tiny bag.

I had a very happy New Year, after all; and when I thought it over in my room, I felt as if I was getting on a little in spite of my many failures; for I'm cheerful all the time now, work with a will, and take more interest in other people than I used to, which is satisfactory. Bless you all!