Louisa May Alcott

Life is my college. May I graduate well, and earn some honors.

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.

It takes two flints to make a fire.

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

Talent isn't genius, and no amount of energy can make it so. I want to be great, or nothing. I won't be a commonplace dauber, so I don't intend to try any more.

Happy is the son whose faith in his mother remains unchallenged.

It takes people a long time to learn the difference between talent and genius, especially ambitious young men and women.

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.

Conceit spoils the finest genius. There is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long; even if it is, the consciousness of possessing and using it well should satisfy one, and the great charm of all power is modesty.

Housekeeping ain't no joke.