Why, for mercy’s sake, did boys try to dance who didn’t know the first thing about dancing; and who had feet as big as boats?
There was another occupant of the living-room, curled up on a couch, who must not be overlooked, since he was a creature of marked individuality, and, moreover, had the distinction of being the only living thing whom Susan really hated.
She has no serious ideals at all-her sole aspiration seems to be to have a good time.
I love a book that makes me cry.
At life’s banquet of success I may not be the guest of honor, but I’ll be among those present.
Do you know what I think about the new moon, teacher? I think it is a little golden boat full of dreams. And when it tips on a cloud some of them spill out and fall into your sleep.
Life may be a vale of tears, all right, but there are some folks who enjoy weeping, I reckon.
The gods, so says the old superstition, do not like to behold too happy mortals. It is certain, at least, that some human beings do not.
Oh, it was almost too much to bear! And everything was going on as before – the dancers were spinning around, the boys who couldn’t get partners were hanging about the pavilion, canoodling couples were sitting out on the rocks – nobody seemed to realize what a stupendous thing had happened.
You can never tell about those Yankees!
A woman who has a sense of humor possesses no refuge from the merciless truth about herself. She cannot think herself misunderstood. She cannot revel in self-pity. She cannot comfortably damn any one who differs from her.
Lovely thoughts came flying to meet me like birds. They weren’t my thoughts. I couldn’t think anything half so exquisite. They came from somewhere.
Oh, I know I’m a great trial to you, Marilla,” said Anne repentantly. “I make so many mistakes. But then just think of all the mistakes I don’t make, although I might.
I don’t want her to be like other people. There are too many other people around as it is.
If I really wanted to pray I’ll tell you what I’d do. I’d go out into a great big field all alone or into the deep, deep, woods, and I’d look up into the sky – up – up – up – into that lovely blue sky that looks as if there was no end to its blueness. And then I’d just FEEL a prayer.
Gods in his heaven, all’s right with the world.
When he said good evening you felt that it was a good evening and that it was partly his doing that it was.
Even eighty-odd is sometimes vulnerable to vanity.
Cousin Jimmy thinks I did perfectly right. Cousin Jimmy would think I had done perfectly right if I had murdered Andrew and buried him in the Land of Uprightness. It’s very nice to have one friend like that, though too many wouldn’t be good for you.
You will go far beyond what I have done – you can create – I can only build with the materials others have made. But we builders have our place – we can make temples for our gods and goddesses if nothing else.