Quotes from Louisa May Alcott

I like good strong words that mean something.

I was thinking what a curious thing love is; only a sentiment, and yet it has power to make fools of men and slaves of women.

I am not afraid of storms, for I'm still learning to sail my ship

She felt comforted at once by the sympathy and confidence given her; the knowledge that her mother had a fault like hers, and tried to mend it.

People who hire all these things done for them, never know what they lose; for the homeliest tasks get beautified if loving hands do them, and Meg found so many proofs of this, that everything in her small nest, from the kitchen roller to the silver vase on her parlor table was eloquent of home love and tender forethought.

The conversations were miles beyond Jo's comprehension, but she enjoyed it, though Kant and Hegel were unknown gods, the Subjective and Objective unintelligible terms, and the only thing 'evolved from her inner consciousness' was a bad headache after it was all over.

She needed no reward but the joy she had given.

Let us not tire of a good work, hard though it may be and wearisome; think of the many little hearts that in their sorrow look to us for help. What would the green Earth be without its lovely flowers!

But after each new trial, brighter shone her magic flower, and sweeter grew its breath, while the spirits lost still more their power to tempt her.

few are the mortals to whom we give this lovely gift; what to you is now so full of music and of light, to others is but a pleasant summer world; they never know the language of butterfly or bird or flower, and they are blind to all that I have given you the power to see.

The thought that insignificant as she was, she yet might do some good, made her very careful of her acts and words, and so anxious to keep her heart contented and her face happy, that she forgot her clothes, and made others do the same.

This is a fairy flower,' said the Elf, 'invisible to every eye save yours; now listen while I tell its power. When your heart is filled with loving thoughts, when some kindly deed has been done, some duty well performed, then from the flower there will arise the sweetest, softest fragrance, to reward and gladden you.

Polly tried to conquer the bad feeling; but it worried her, till she remembered something her mother once said to her: When you feel out of sorts, try to make someone else happy, and you will soon be so yourself.

Where have you been, and what are you hiding behind you?" asked Meg, surprised to see, by her hood and cloak, that lazy Amy had been out so early. "Don't laugh at me, Jo; I didn't mean anyone should know till the time came. I only meant to change the little bottle for a big one, and I gave all my money to get it, and I'm truly trying not to be selfish anymore.

Di wrestled with her knitting as if it were Fate, and she were paying off the grudge she owed

Je suis en proie à la colère presque tous les jours de ma vie, Jo ; mais j'ai appris à ne pas la manifester et j'espère encore apprendre à ne plus la ressentir ; quand bien même cela devrait me prendre quarante autres années de ma vie.

Comprendan el valor del tiempo usándolo bien. Así la juventud será encantadora, la vejez traerá pocas lamentaciones y la vida será dichosa y hermosa

Jo's ambition was to do something very splendid; what it was she had no idea, as yet, but left it for time to tell her; and, meanwhile, found her greatest affliction in the fact that she couldn't read, run, and ride as much as she liked. A quick temper, sharp tongue, and restless spirit were always getting her into scrapes, and her life was a series of ups and downs, which were both comic and pathetic.

Había aumentado tanto su enojo que éste la dominaba por completo como suele ocurrir con los malos pensamientos y sentimientos si no se expulsan en el primer momento.

I think there were not in all the city, four merrier people than the hungry little girls who gave away their bread and milk on Christmas morning.

I watched him long, and he seemed to be following you as if to guard and yet not be seen himself...

And Maud's face brightened: for destructiveness is one of the earliest traits of childhood, and ripping was Maud's delight.

Was it all self-pity, loneliness, or low spirits? Or was it the waking up of a sentiment which had bided its time as patiently as its inspirer? Who shall say?

When he had gone, she went to her little chapel, and sitting in the twilight, prayed for Beth, with streaming tears and an aching heart, feeling that a million turquoise rings would not console her for the loss of her little sister