Quotes from Louisa May Alcott

I don't believe I shall ever marry; I'm happy as I am, and love my liberty too well to be in any hurry to give it up for any mortal man.

We don't choose our talents; but we needn't hide them in a napkin because they are not just what we want.

If life is often so hard as this, I don't see how we ever shall get through it…

I do like men who come out frankly and own that they are not gods.

In her secret soul, however, she decided that politics were as bad as mathematics, and that the mission of politicians seemed to be calling each other names…

nothing remained but loneliness and grief…

Persuasive influences are better than any amount of moralizing.

I shall keep my book on the table here, and read a little every morning as soon as I wake, for I know it will do me good, and help me through the day.

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.

But the spirit of Eve is strong in all her daughters.

books are always good company if you have the right sort. Let me pick out some for you.' And Mrs. Jo made a bee-line to the well-laden shelves, which were the joy of her heart and the comfort of her life.

I almost wish I hadn't any conscience, it's so inconvenient. If I didn't care about doing the right and didn't feel uncomfortable when doing wrong, I should get on capitally.

Simple, sincere people seldom speak much of their piety; it shows itself in acts rather than words, and has more influence than homilies or protestations.

A time will come when you will find that in gaining a brief joy you have lost your peace forever.

freedom being the sauce best beloved by the boyish soul.

Go and make yourself useful, since you are too big to be ornamental.

We can't any of us do all we would like, but we can do our best for every case that comes to us, and that helps amazingly.

My only answer is, if my grave stood open on one side and you upon the other I'd go into my grave before I would take one step to meet you.

and clung more closely to the dear human love, from which our Father never means us to be weaned, but through which He draws us closer to Himself.

Our actions are in our own hands, but the consequences of them are not. Remember that, my dear, and think twice before you do anything.

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.

Love will make you show your heart someday...

Strong convictions precede great actions.

Her beauty satisfied [his] artistic eye, her peculiarities piqued his curiosity, her vivacity lightened his ennui, and her character interested him by the unconscious hints it gave of power, pride and passion. So entirely natural and unconventional was she that he soon found himself on a familiar footing, asking all manner of unusual questions, and receiving rather piquant replies.