Look at that sea, girls--all silver and shadow and vision of things not seen. We couldn't enjoy its loveliness any more if we had millions of dollars and ropes of diamonds.

It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.

Because when you are imagining, you might as well imagine something worth while.

Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing.

My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes.

I don't know, I don't want to talk as much. (...) It's nicer to think dear, pretty thoughts and keep them in one's heart, like treasures. I don't like to have them laughed at or wondered over.

Do you know what I think Mayflowers are, Marilla? I think they must be the souls of the flowers that died last summer, and this is their heaven.

It is ever so much easier to be good if your clothes are fashionable.

Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it.

The world looks like something God had just imaged for his own pleasure, doesn't it?

Don't you just love poetry that gives you a crinkly feeling up and down your back?

And sure, I know if you eat this way you'll die. So? If you don't eat this way you're still going to die. Why not die happy?

There's no "brothers" when it comes to white people. We are just complete individuals. We don't care about each other. He's not my brother; my brother lives in Ohio - I don't know that guy.

It has long been a theory of mine and I am known, if I do say so, for my long theories that authors, generally speaking, are rotten letter writers.

There's nobody between you and the print. Nobody. It's you and the subject and the final print. And if you get it published that way, you've said it.

Every man is his own Pygmalion, and spends his life fashioning himself. And in fashioning himself, for good or ill, he fashions the human race and its future.

The one who fights back retains his dignity and his self-respect.

Clearly the most unfortunate people are those who must do the same thing over and over again, every minute, or perhaps twenty to the minute. They deserve the shortest hours and the highest pay.

Disappointment is temporary. Only your thought about it is permanent. Change your mind about what has disappointed you and you will change your life

Why were you feeling low? Why does anyone? It creeps up on you from time to time.

There are two fatal errors that keep great projects from coming to life: 1. Not finishing 2. Not starting.