Top 500 Louisa May Alcott Quotes (2025 Update)
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301. “Now we are expected to be as wise as men who have had generations of all the help there is, and we scarcely anything.”

— Louisa May Alcott

302. “The right string had been touched, and even French exercises and piano practice became endurable, since accomplishments would be useful by and by; dress, manners, and habits were all interesting now, because ‘mind and body, heart and soul, must be cultivated’, and while training to become an ‘intelligent, graceful, healthy girl’, little Josie was unconsciously fitting herself to play her part well on whatever stage the great Manager might prepare for her.”

— Louisa May Alcott

303. “It isn’t fair that I should have the hardest work, and never any amusement. Men are very selfish, even the best of them.”

— Louisa May Alcott

304. “Virtue was its own reward.”

— Louisa May Alcott

305. “You have so many extraordinary gifts; how can you expect to lead an ordinary life? You’re ready to go out and – and find a good use for your talent.”

— Louisa May Alcott

306. “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 for the fun of it.”

— Louisa May Alcott

307. “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.”

— Louisa May Alcott

308. “That was all, except a little pause. Then Laurie straightened himself up, said, “It’s all right, never mind,” and went away without another word. Ah, but it wasn’t all right, and Jo did mind, for while the curly head lay on her arm a minute after her hard answer, she felt as if she had stabbed her dearest friend, and when he left her without a look behind him, she knew that the boy Laurie never would come again.”

— Louisa May Alcott

309. “Everybody has their days of misfortune.”

— Louisa May Alcott

310. “It is apt to be so, and it is hard to bear; for, though we do not want trumpets blown, we do like to have out little virtues appreciated, and cannot help feeling disappointed if they are not.”

— Louisa May Alcott

311. “Laurie liked her better for it, and found himself both admiring and respecting the brave patience that made the most of opportunity, and the cheerful spirit that covered poverty with flowers.”

— Louisa May Alcott

312. “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!”

— Louisa May Alcott

313. “Mac looked up with the oddest of all his odd expressions.”

— Louisa May Alcott

314. “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 in some privations give sweetness to the few pleasures. I am content to see Meg begin humbly, for if I am not mistaken, she will be rich in the possession of a good man’s heart, and that is better than fortune.”

— Louisa May Alcott

315. “I never thought I should like to wash dishes, but I do,” said Rose, as she sat in a boat after supper lazily rinsing plates in the sea, and rocking luxuriously as she wiped them.”

— Louisa May Alcott

316. “They were very happy, even after they discovered that they couldn’t live on love alone.”

— Louisa May Alcott

317. “You’ll get over this after a while, and find some lovely accomplished girl, who will adore you, and make a fine mistress for your fine house. I shouldn’t. I’m homely and awkward and odd and old, and you’d be ashamed of me, and we should quarrel – we can’t help it even now, you see – and I shouldn’t like elegant society and you would, and you’d hate my scribbling, and I couldn’t get on without it, and we should be unhappy, and wish we hadn’t done it, and everything would be horrid!”

— Louisa May Alcott

318. “I’m so fond of luxury.”

— Louisa May Alcott

319. “Thank goodness, I can always find something funny to keep me up.”

— Louisa May Alcott

320. “Criticism is the best test of such work, for it will show her both unsuspected merits and faults, and help her to do better next time. We are too partial; but the praise and blame of outsiders will prove useful...”

— Louisa May Alcott

321. “Do you consider shoes unhealthy?” he asked, surveying the socks with respectful interest.”

— Louisa May Alcott

322. “My castle is very different from what I planned, but I would not alter it...”

— Louisa May Alcott

323. “You don’t give her up. You only go halves.”

— Louisa May Alcott

324. “I don’t believe it’s the right sort of love, and I’d rather not try it,” was the decided answer.”

— Louisa May Alcott

325. “I agree not to expect anything.”

— Louisa May Alcott

326. “They did feel it, yet neither spoke of it, for often between ourselves and those nearest and dearest to us there exists a reserve which it is very hard to overcome.”

— Louisa May Alcott

327. “I wish Americans were as simple and natural as Germans, don’t you? I’m.”

— Louisa May Alcott

328. “In spite of her sorrow, she enjoyed that minute very much for she was a born consoler, and, it is hardly necessary for me to add, loved this reprehensible Tom with all her heart. It was a very foolish thing for her to do, she quite agreed to that; she couldn’t understand it, explain it, or help it; she only felt that she did care for him very much, in spite of his faults, his indifference, and his engagement.”

— Louisa May Alcott

329. “It does seem to me that some one might write stories that should be lively, natural and helpful tales in which the English should be good, the morals pure, and the characters such as we can love in spite of the faults that all may have.”

— Louisa May Alcott

330. “The war is over, and Mr. March safely at home, busy with his books and the small parish which found in him a minister by nature as by grace, a quiet, studious man, rich in the wisdom that is better than learning, the charity which calls all mankind ‘brother’, the piety that blossoms into character, making it august and lovely.”

— Louisa May Alcott

331. “There can’t be too much charity!”

— Louisa May Alcott

332. “A very precious and lovely part, but not all,” continued Rose. “Neither should it be for a woman: for we’ve got minds and souls as well as hearts; ambition and talents as well as beauty and accomplishments; and we want to live and learn as well as love and be loved. I’m sick of being told that is all a woman is fit for! I won’t have anything to do with love till I prove that I am something besides a housekeeper and baby-tender!”

— Louisa May Alcott

333. “Many wise and true sermons are preached us every day by unconscious ministers in street, school, office, or home; even a fair table may become a pulpit, if it can offer the good and helpful words which are never out of season. Amy’s conscience preached her a little sermon from that text, then and there, and she did what many of us do not always do – took the sermon to heart, and straightway put it in practice.”

— Louisa May Alcott

334. “Fame is a very good thing to have in the house, but cash is more convenient, so I wish to take the sense of the meeting on this important subject,” said Jo, calling a family council.”

— Louisa May Alcott

335. “It does seem pleasant to be quiet, and not have company manners on all the time. Home is a nice place, though it isn’t splendid.”

— Louisa May Alcott

336. “It is not cowardly to flee temptation, and nobody whose opinion is worth having will ridicule any brave attempt to conquer one’s self. Don’t mind it, Charlie, but stand fast, and I am sure you will succeed.”

— Louisa May Alcott

337. “Those are people whom it’s a satisfaction to help, for if they’ve got genius, it’s an honor to be allowed to serve them, and not let it be lost or delayed for want of fuel to keep the pot boiling. If they haven’t, it’s a pleasure to comfort the poor souls, and keep them from despair when they find it out.”

— Louisa May Alcott

338. “It takes so little to make a child happy, that it is a pity in a world full of sunshine and pleasant things, that there should be any wistful faces, empty hands, or lonely little hearts.”

— Louisa May Alcott

339. “Wouldn’t it be fun if all the castles in the air which we make could come true and we could live in them?”

— Louisa May Alcott

340. “Wild roses are fairest, and nature a better gardener than art.”

— Louisa May Alcott

341. “People want to be amused, not preached at, you know. Morals don’t sell nowadays.”

— Louisa May Alcott

342. “I believe that it is as much a right and duty for women to do something with their lives as for men and we are not going to be satisfied with such frivolous parts as you give us.”

— Louisa May Alcott

343. “I like to help women help themselves, as that is, in my opinion, the best way to settle the woman question. Whatever we can do and do well we have a right to, and I don’t think any one will deny us.”

— Louisa May Alcott

344. “If he is old enough to ask the question he is old enough to receive true answers. I am not putting the thoughts into his head, but helping him unfold those already there.”

— Louisa May Alcott

345. “Mine first – mine last – mine even in the grave!”

— Louisa May Alcott

346. “I never knew how much like heaven this world could be, when two people love and live for one another!”

— Louisa May Alcott

347. “Jo’s breath gave out here, and wrapping her head in the paper, she bedewed her little story with a few natural tears, 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 end.”

— Louisa May Alcott

348. “People cannot be molded like clay.”

— Louisa May Alcott

349. “But young as she was, Jo had learned that hearts, like flowers, cannot be rudely handled, but must open naturally, so though she believed she knew the cause of Beth’s new pain, she only said, in her tenderest tone, “Does anything trouble you, deary?”

— Louisa May Alcott

350. “When Laurie said ‘Good-by’, he whispered significantly, “It won’t do a bit of good, Jo. My eye is on you; so mind what you do, or I’ll come and bring you home.”

— Louisa May Alcott