Quotes from Louisa May Alcott

There is very little real liberty in the world; even those who seem freest are often the most tightly bound.

Her heart sunk within her, for the shadow of his presence seemed to fall darkly over all her future.

smile upon him far, far from foemen's power. And Mohammed, thinking to look upon a dying slave, shall

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

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

Marriage is an economic proposition.

he came for her sake alone.

O Christie! never think it's time to die till you are called; for the Lord leaves us till we have done our work, and never sends more sin and sorrow than we can bear and be the better for, if we hold fast by Him.

She laughed at herself for this fancy at first; but not possessing the sweet unconsciousness of those heroines who can live through three volumes with a burning passion before their eyes, and never see it till the proper moment comes

Many men can be what the world calls great: very few men are what God calls good.

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.

Seems to me poor children

He can give you one thing, Tilly,—the pleasure of doing good. That is one of the sweetest things in life; and the poor can enjoy it as well as the rich.

Grandma, down in her own cozy room, sat listening to the blithe noises with a smile on her face, for the past seemed to have come back again. It was as if her own boys and girls were once again frolicking in the rooms above her head, as they had done forty years before.

Perhaps not, I've heard that the people who love best are often blindest to such things.

A] hospital is a rough school, its lessons are both stern and salutary; and the humblest of pupils there in proportion to his faithfulness learns a deep faith in God and in himself.

Sentimental? Yes. Thank Gott, we Germans believe in sentiment, and keep ourselves young mit it. Your English 'you' is so cold, say 'thou,' heart's dearest, it means so much to me, pleaded Mr. Bhaer, more like a romantic student than a grave professor.

Girls write to ask who the little women marry, as if that was the only aim and end of a woman's life. I won't marry Jo to Laurie to please anyone.

Utter his name again and I will take you at your word. In defending me he will forget he is a priest and teach you to respect and fear him as you never feared and respected man before. Say what you have to say and go.

for you belong to the old set, and I to the new; you will get on the best, but I shall have the liveliest time of it

A good fit of illness proves the value of health; real danger tries one's mettle; and self-service Sweetner character.

talent isn't genius and you can't make it so

You don't really think I am such a mercenary creature as I tried to be once, do you? It would break my heart, if you didn't believe that I'd gladly pull in the same boat with you, even if you had to get your living by rowing the lake.

En el mundo hay muchísimas Beth, tímidas y tranquilas, sentadas en rincones hasta que alguien las necesita, y que viven para los demás tan alegremente, que nadie se da cuenta de los sacrificios que hacen hasta que el grillo del hogar cesa de chirriar y desaparece el dulce rayo de sol, dejado atrás silencio y sombra.