Quotes from Louisa May Alcott

I am not a young lady, and it's only a step. Take care of yourself, won't you? Yes, but you will come again, I hope? If you promise to come and see us after you are well. I will. Good night, Laurie! Good night, Jo, good night! When all the afternoon's adventures had been told, the family felt inclined to go visiting in a body

He has thought of Jo in reaching after the thorny red rose, for vivid flowers became her, and she had often worn ones like that from the greenhouse at home. The pale roses Amy gave him were the sort that Italians lay in dead hands, never in bridal wreaths, and for a moment he wondered if the omen was for Jo or for himself; but next instant his American common sense got the better of sentimentality, and he laughed a heartier laugh than Amy has heard since he came.

I want my daughters to be beautiful, accomplished, and good; to be admired, loved and respected; to have a happy youth, to be well and wisely married, and to lead useful, pleasant lives, with as little care and sorrow to try and find them as God sees fit to send. To be loved, and chosen by a good man is the best and sweetest thing which can be to a woman; and I sincerely hope my girls may know this beautiful experience.

For to be independent and earn the praise of those she loved were the dearest wishes of her heart, and this seemed to be the first step toward that happy goal.

Kindness in looks and words and ways is true politeness, and any one can have it if they only try to treat other people as they like to be treated themselves.

The Old-Fashioned Girl is not intended as a perfect model, but as a possible improvement upon [Page] the Girl of the Period, who seems sorrowfully ignorant or ashamed of the good old fashions which make woman truly beautiful and honored, and, through her, render home what it should be,-a happy place, where parents and children, brothers and sisters, learn to love and know and help one another.

I should give Mother a new bonnet first of all, for I heard Miss Kent say no lady would wear such a shabby one. Mrs. Smith said fine bonnets didn't make real ladies, though.

She tore the letter to atoms.

Thou givest me such hope and courage, and I have nothing to give back bit a full heart and these empty hands

No sabes cuánto! Lo intento, pero cada día pierdo un poco más de fuerza y comprendo que no la recuperaré jamás. Es como una marea, Jo; cuando crece, va lenta, pero es imparable. —Pues debemos pararla. Tu marea no puede crecer ahora, eres demasiado joven, ¡sólo tienes diecinueve años! Beth, no puedo dejarte marchar...

No Paris either, and that's the worst of it all!

What excessive promises, giving yourself away to get the other. What a thing, what a gift, always given before it is known the cost or the reward.

all play and no work is as bad as all work and no play.

We can't do much, but we can make our little sacrifices, and ought to do it gladly.

Dear old fellow! He couldn't have got himself up with more care if he'd been going a-wooing, said Jo to herself, and then a sudden thought born of the words made her blush so dreadfully that she had to drop her ball, and go down after it to hide her face.

He was neither rich nor great, young nor handsome, - in no respect what is called fascinating, imposing or brilliant; and yet he was as attractive as a genial fire, and people seemed to gather about him as naturally as about a warm hearth.

Why, you know I don't mind hard jobs much, and there must always be one scrub in a family. Amy is splendid in fine works and I'm not, but I feel in my element when all the carpets are to be taken up, or half the family fall sick at once. Amy is distinguishing herself abroad, but if anything is amiss at home, I'm your man.

Jo wanted to lay her head down on that motherly bosom, and cry her grief and anger all away, but tears were an unmanly weakness, and she felt so deeply injured that she really couldn't quite forgive yet.

Não faça assim, Jo, é coisa de moleque. ââ'¬â€œÉ por isso mesmo que faço. –Detesto meninas grosseiras e pouco femininas. –Odeio sirigaitas afetadas e cheias de dedos.

Now, Laurie felt just then that his heart was entirely broken and the world a howling wilderness, but at the sound of certain words which the old gentleman artfully introduced into his closing sentence, the broken heart gave an unexpected leap, and a green oasis or two suddenly appeared in the howling wilderness.

She silently excepted his challenge to the tournament so often held between man and woman- a tournament where the keen tongue is the lance, pride the shield, passion the fiery steed, and the hardest heart the winner of the prize.

Hearing, like a sad refrain- 'Be worthy, love, and love will come,' In the falling summer rain.

Warm rains had melted the last trace of snow, and every bank was full of prickling grass blades, brave little pioneers and heralds of the Spring.

Para mí yo no busco otra corona que la que todos pueden pretender, ni ansío la conquista de otro mundo que el que está dentro de mi propio ser.