Great Throughts Treasury

"I told my plan to Fritz once, and he said it was just what he would like, and agreed to try it when we got rich. Bless his dear heart, he's been doing it all his life?helping poor boys, I mean, not getting rich, that he'll never be. Money doesn't stay in his pocket long enough to lay up any. But now, thanks to my good old aunt, who loved me better than I ever deserved, I'm rich, at least I feel so, and we can live at Plumfield perfectly well, if we have a flourishing school. It's just the place for boys, the house is big, and the furniture strong and plain. There's plenty of room for dozens inside, and splendid grounds outside. They could help in the garden and orchard. Such work is healthy, isn't it, sir? Then Fritz could train and teach in his own way, and Father will help him. I can feed and nurse and pet and scold them, and Mother will be my stand-by. I've always longed for lots of boys, and never had enough, now I can fill the house full and revel in the little dears to my heart's content. Think what luxury? Plumfield my own, and a wilderness of boys to enjoy it with me."

"I want to be great, or nothing. I won't be a commonplace dauber, so I don't intend to try any more."

"I want to do something splendid before I go into my castle, - something heroic or wonderful, that won't be forgotten after I'm dead. I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it, and mean to astonish you all, some day."

"I want to do something splendid before I go into my castle--something heroic, or wonderful--that won't be forgotten after I'm dead. I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it, and mean to astonish you all, some day. I think I shall write books, and get rich and famous; that would suit me, so that is my favorite dream."

"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 them as God sees fit to send."

"I want to do something splendid... something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead. I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it and mean to astonish you all someday."

"I want to do something splendid. Something heroic or wonderful that won?t be forgotten after I?m dead. I think I shall write books."

"I was never like the rest of you, making plans about the great things I'd do, I never saw myself as anything much, just shy, stupid little Beth, who's only use was at home. Why does everyone want to go away? I love being home, but I don't like being left behind. Now I'm the one going ahead, No one can stop God if He wants me, But I'm afraid I shall be homesick for you... even in heaven."

"I wanted to show that the mother was the heroine as soon as possible. I'm tired of love-sick girls and runaway wives. We'll prove that there's romance in old women also."

"I?m not like the rest of you; I never made any plans about what I?d do when I grew up; I never thought of being married, as you did. I couldn?t seem to imagine myself anything but stupid little Beth, trotting about at home, of no use anywhere but there. 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 will make a battering-ram of my head and make a way through this rough-and-tumble world."

"I wish I had no heart, it aches so."

"I'd like to borrow some money. I shouldn't think of asking you, only Mac never has a cent since he's set up his old chemical shop, where he'll blow himself to bits some day and you and Uncle will have the fun of putting him together again, and Steve tried to look as if the idea amused him."

"I wish wearing flat-irons on our heads would keep us from growing up. But buds will be roses, and kittens, cats, - more's the pity!"

"I wonder if you know just what it means to pious? Goin' to church, and readin' the Bible, and sayin' prayers and hymns, ain't it? Those things are a part of it; but being kind and cheerful, doing one's duty, helping others, and loving God, is the best way to show that are pious in the true sense of the word."

"I'd rather see you poor men's wives, if you were happy, beloved, contented, than queen's on thrones, without self-respect and peace."

"I'd rather take coffee than compliments just now."

"If all literary women had such thoughtful angels for husbands, they would live longer and write more. Perhaps that wouldn't be such a blessing to the world though, as most of us write too much now,' said Mrs. Jo."

"If everyone agreed, we should never get on."

"If I can do no more, let my name stand among those who are willing to bear ridicule and reproach for the truth's sake, and so earn some right to rejoice when the victory is won."

"I'd take it manfully, and be respected if I couldn't be loved."

"If I didn't care about doing right and didn't feel uncomfortable doing wrong, I should get on capitally."

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

"If men and women would only trust, understand, and help one another as my children do, what a capital place the world would be!' and Mrs. Jo's eyes grew absent, as if she was looking at a new and charming state of society in which people lived as happily and innocently as her flock at Plumfield."

"If Mr. Clemens cannot think of something better to tell our pure-minded lads and lasses, he had better stop writing for them."

"If she had seen his face when, safe in his own room, he looked at the picture of a severe and rigid young lady, with a good deal of hair, who appeared to be gazing darkly into futurity, it might have thrown some light upon the subject, especially when he turned off the gas, and kissed the picture in the dark."

"If people really want to go, and really try all their lives, I think they will get in; for I don?t believe there are any locks on that door, or any guards at the gate. I always imagine it is as it is in the picture, where the shining ones stretch out their hands to welcome poor Christian as he comes up from the river."

"'If something very pleasant should happen now, we should think it a delightful month,' said Beth, who took a hopeful view of everything, even November."

"If she really had any doubt, the look in Dr. Alec's face banished it without a word, as he opened wide his arms and she ran into them, feeling that home was here."

"If we are all alive ten years hence, let's meet, and see how many of us have got our wishes, or how much nearer we are then than now."

"If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative, I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that?s all that you really are. Time erodes all such beauty, but what it cannot diminish is the wonderful workings of your mind: Your humor, your kindness, and your moral courage. These are the things I cherish so in you. I so wish I could give my girls a more just world. But I know you?ll make it a better place."

"If you dear little girls would only learn what real beauty is, and not pinch and starve and bleach yourselves out so, you'd save an immense deal of time and money and pain. A happy soul in a healthy body makes the best sort of beauty for man or woman."

"I'm afraid I couldn't like him without a spice of human naughtiness."

"I'm a bashful individual, though I can't get anyone to believe it..."

"I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship."

"I'm always ready to talk, shouldn't be a woman if I were not,' laughed Mrs. Jo."

"I'm 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'm not Meg tonight, I'm a 'doll'."

"I'm perfectly miserable; but if you consider me presentable, I die happy."

"I'm tired of praise; and love is very sweet, when it is simple and sincere like this."

"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."

"In spite of her small vanities, Margaret had a sweet and pious nature, which unconsciously influenced her sisters, especially Jo, who loved her very tenderly, and obeyed her because her advice was so gently given."

"In silence learned the sweet solace which affection administers to sorrow."

"Is that an accomplishment? asked Rose, while her face fell, for she had indulged in all sorts of vague, delightful daydreams."

"Is it not meningitis? [last words]"

"In the midst of her tears came the thought, When people are in danger, they ask God to save them; and, slipping down upon her knees, she said her prayer as she had never said it before, for when human help seems gone we turn to Him as naturally as lost children cry to their father, and feel sure that he will hear and answer them."

"Is that my boy??"

"It is a merciful provision my dears, for it takes three or four women to get each man into, through, and out of the world. You are costly creatures, boys, and it is well that mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters love their duty and do it so well, or you would perish off the face of the earth,' said Mrs. Jo solemnly?"

"It does seem as if the more one gets the more one wants"

"It is my opinion that this day will never come to an end, said Prince, with a yawn that nearly rent him asunder."