In the literary world, Louisa May Alcott's timeless classic, "Little Women," stands as an enduring testament to the power of family, friendship, and the indomitable spirit of young women coming of age. The novel, set against the backdrop of the Civil War, weaves a heartwarming tale of the March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy - as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of adolescence, each with her own dreams and aspirations. As we explore the world of "Little Women quotes," we embark on a journey through the hearts and minds of the March sisters, discovering enduring lessons that continue to inspire and uplift generations of readers.
Little Women Quotes (2024)
"Louisa May Alcott's timeless classic, 'Little Women,' has captivated readers for generations with its heartfelt portrayal of the March sisters and their journey towards womanhood. In this collection of 'Little Women Quotes,' we revisit the cherished moments and poignant wisdom found within the pages of this beloved novel. Join us in reliving the enchanting world of 'Little Women' through the words of its unforgettable characters."
"I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship."
"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents."
"I could never love anyone as I love my sisters."
"I like good strong words that mean something."
"I want to do something splendid... something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead."
"Life is too short to be wasted in finding fault."
"Love is a great beautifier."
"Oh, Jo, how can you be so kind to me when I've been so horrid?"
"Our lives are like a book, dear, that we read backward as well as forward."
"You have so many extraordinary gifts; how can you expect to lead an ordinary life?"
"I'd rather take coffee than compliments just now."
"I'm not afraid of poverty; I don't mind being poor."
"I've got the key to my castle in the air, but whether I can unlock the door remains to be seen."
"It takes two flints to make a fire."
"Let us be elegant or die!"
"Love is the only thing that we can carry with us when we go, and it makes the end so easy."
"Oh, don't I wish I could manage my own affairs as well as you do yours!"
"People don't always do what they believe in, but they do what's convenient, then they repent."
"She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain."
"The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely."
"There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind."
"We can't choose our lives, but we can decide what to do with the joys or griefs we're given."
"What do girls do who haven't any mothers to help them through their troubles?"
"When you feel discontented, think over your blessings, and be grateful."
"You are the gull, Jo, strong and wild, fond of the storm and the wind, flying far out to sea, and happy all alone."
"You don't need scores of suitors. You need only one... if he's the right one."
"You'll find, dear, that the world is full of two kinds of people: the people who can't do anything, and the people who can do anything they want to."
"I am not a genius; I am just a hard-working girl."
"I like to help women help themselves, as that is, in my opinion, the best way to settle the woman question."
"It's so dreadful to be poor!"
"I'd rather live in a garret with plenty of good books than in the finest mansion with only one."
"I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship."
"It's not what we have, but what we do, that makes life pleasant."
"Love is a great beautifier."
"My book is one small voice in the great chorus of literature."
"Nothing is impossible to a determined woman."
"The best way to mend a broken heart is time and girlfriends."
"The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely."
"To be loved and chosen by a good man is the best and sweetest thing which can happen to a woman, and I sincerely hope my girls may know this beautiful experience."
"We can't choose our lives, but we can choose to make them beautiful."
"What is it that makes you think you would enjoy being married?"
"You have a good many little gifts and virtues, but there is no need of parading them, for conceit spoils the finest genius."
"You never can tell what may happen when you trust in the magic of little things."
"You'll find, dear, that the world is full of two kinds of people: the people who can't do anything, and the people who can do anything they want to."
"A lady acts as if she were born a lady."
"Better be happy old maids than unhappy wives."
"Don't try to make me grow up before my time."
"Do the things you know, and you shall learn the truth you need to know."
"I could do that, if I had a fortune."
"I don't like to be put under obligations."
"I hate to think I've got to grow up and be Miss March, and wear long gowns, and look as prim as a China aster! It's bad enough to be a girl, anyway, when I like boys' games and work and manners!"
"I'd rather be a free spinster and paddle my own canoe."
"I'm not afraid of anything in the world except poverty."
"I'm not a genius; I'm just a hard-working girl."
"I've got the key to my castle in the air, but whether I can unlock the door remains to be seen."
"It does seem as if I could do nothing but be happy in this house."
"Life is too short to be wasted in finding fault."
"Love is a great beautifier."
"Oh, dear, I'm afraid I shall forget to be kind to them because they're not like us."
"Oh, don't I wish I could manage my own affairs as well as you do yours!"
"Oh, Jo, can't you?"
"She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain."
"Some people seemed to get all sunshine, and some all shadow."
"The best of us have a spice of perversity in us, especially when we are young and in love."
"The clocks were striking midnight and the rooms were very still as a figure glided quietly from bed to bed, smoothing a coverlet 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."
"The humblest tasks get beautified if loving hands do them."
"The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely."
"The question is not what you do, but how you do it."
"There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind."
"To be continued will be continued..."
"What do girls do who haven't any mothers to help them through their troubles?"
"When you feel discontented, think over your blessings, and be grateful."
"You are the gull, Jo, strong and wild, fond of the storm and the wind, flying far out to sea, and happy all alone."
"You don't need scores of suitors. You need only one... if he's the right one."
"You have so many extraordinary gifts; how can you expect to lead an ordinary life?"
"You'll be a great artist, Polly, and we'll all be proud of you."
"A little kingdom I possess, where thoughts and feelings dwell; and very hard the task I find of governing it well."
"An hour spent in reading is one stolen from paradise."
"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents."
"Don't laugh at the spinsters, dear girls, for often very tender, tragic romances are hidden away in the hearts that beat so quietly under the sober gowns."
"Even the laziest, the most muddled, the idlest girl in the house, was a prop, comfort, and joy to her."
"Girls are so queer, you never know what they mean. They say No when they mean Yes, and drive a man out of his wits just for the fun of it."
"Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets and life will become a beautiful success."
"I am angry nearly every day of my life, Jo, but I have learned not to show it; and I still hope to learn not to feel it, though it may take me another forty years to do so."
"I am not a nurse, and I don't intend to be one."
"I am not ambitious for a splendid fortune, a fashionable position, or a great name for my girls. If rank and money come with love and virtue, also, I should accept them gratefully, and enjoy your good fortune, but I know, by experience, how much genuine happiness can be had in a plain little house, where the daily bread is earned, and some privations give sweetness to the few pleasures."
"I am not sick, just a little tired, and very cross."
"I am not, never was, and never will be a girly girl."
"I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string."
"I can't help flying up on the wings of anticipation. It's as glorious as soaring through a sunset... almost pays for the thud."
"I don't pretend to be wise, but I am observing, and I see a great deal more than you'd imagine."
"I don't want to be admired or praised or petted. I want to be useful."
"I don't wish to make people laugh, or cry, or dance, but I want to give them something to think about."
"I hate to think I've got to grow up, and be Miss March, and wear long gowns, and look as prim as a China-aster!"
"I like to have my things nice and clean, and my boys happy. Don't I wish I could marry them all!"
"I may be vain and weak, but I am not a liar, and I will never marry a man who is."
"I never wanted to go away, and the hard part now is leaving you all. I'm not afraid, but it seems as if I should be homesick for you even in heaven."
"I think she is growing up, and so begins to dream dreams, and have hopes and fears and fidgets, without knowing why or being able to explain them."
"I want to be great or nothing."
"I shall be myself as long as I can, and I am decidedly disinclined to be a knobstick."
In closing, the enduring legacy of "Little Women" is a testament to the timeless wisdom and profound insights contained within its pages. Through the lens of the March sisters, readers of all generations have discovered the transformative power of love, the importance of resilience, and the beauty of pursuing one's dreams. "Little Women Quotes" serve as guiding stars, illuminating the path of compassion, sisterhood, and the enduring values that bind families together.
