Top quotes by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The robin flew from his swinging spray of ivy on to the top of the wall and he opened his beak and sang a loud, lovely trill, merely to show off. Nothing in the world is quite as adorably lovely as a robin when he shows off - and they are nearly always doing it. Votes: 14

And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles. Votes: 12

If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden. Votes: 11

Dr. Warren was of the mental build of the man whose life would be interesting and full of outlook if it were spent on a desert island or in the Bastille. Votes: 10

To let a sad thought or a bad one get into your mind is as dangerous as letting a scarlet fever germ get into your body. If you let it stay there after it has got in, you may never get over it as long as you live. Votes: 9

Two things cannot be in one place. Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow. Votes: 9

If you fill your mind with a beautiful thought, there will be no room in it for an ugly one. - King Amor Votes: 8

Imagine, if you can, what the rest of the evening was like. How they crouched by the fire which blazed and leaped and made much of itself in the little grate. How they removed the covers of the dishes, and found rich, hot savory soup, which was a meal in itself, and sandwiches and toast and muffins enough for both of them. Votes: 8

The mug from the washstand was used as Becky's tea cup, and the tea was so delicious that it was not necessary to pretend that it was anything but tea. Votes: 7

As she came closer to him she noticed that there was a clean fresh scent of heather and grass and leaves about him, almost as if he were made of them. She liked it very much and when she looked into his funny face with the red cheeks and round blue eyes she forgot that she had felt shy. Votes: 6

She wished she could talk as he did. His speech was so quick and easy. It sounded as if he liked her and was not the least afraid she would not like him, though he was only a common moor boy, in patched clothes and with a funny face and a rough, rusty-red head. Votes: 6

At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done--then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago. Votes: 6

My mother always says people should be able to take care of themselves, even if they're rich and important. Votes: 5

Hang in there. It is astonishing how short a time it can take for very wonderful things to happen. Votes: 5

She says it has nothing to do with what you look like, or what you have. It has only to do with what you think of and what you do. Votes: 5

The air was full of spices... A Little Princess Votes: 5

You can lose a friend in springtime easier than any other season if you're too curious. Votes: 4

However many years she lived, Mary always felt that 'she should never forget that first morning when her garden began to grow'. Votes: 4

Nothing in the world is so strong as a kind heart Votes: 4

How it is that animals understand things I do not know, but it is certain that they do understand. Perhaps there is a language which is not made of words and everything in the world understands it. Perhaps there is a soul hidden in everything and it can always speak, without even making a sound, to another soul. Votes: 3

Everything is made out of Magic, leaves and trees, flowers and birds, badgers and foxes and squirrels and people. So it must be all around us. In this garden-in all the places. Votes: 3

Only in dreams of spring Shall I ever see again The flowering of my cherry trees. Votes: 3

If nature has made you for a giver, your hands are born open, and so is your heart; and though there may be times when your hands are empty, your heart is always full, and you can give things out of that--warm things, kind things, sweet things--help and comfort and laughter--and sometimes gay, kind laughter is the best help of all. Votes: 2

Whatever comes," she said, "cannot alter one thing. If I am a princess in rags and tatters, I can be a princess inside. It would be easy to be a princess if I were dressed in cloth of gold, but it is a great deal more of a triumph to be one all the time when no one knows it. Votes: 2

Perhaps I have not really a good temper at all, but if you have everything you want and everyone is kind to you, how can you help but be good-tempered? Perhaps I'm a HIDEOUS child, and no one will ever know, just beecause I never have any trials. (Sara Crewe, A Little Princess) Votes: 2

I am writing in the garden. To write as one should of a garden one must write not outside it or merely somewhere near it, but in the garden. Votes: 1

I know what it is to be hungry, and it is very hard when one cannot even pretend it away. -Sara Votes: 1

...if He made us, He must know He is to blame when He has made us weak or evil. And He must understand why we have been so made, and when we throw ourselves into the dust before Him, and pray for help and pardon, surely--surely He will lend an ear! Votes: 1

Is the spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?"..."It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine... Votes: 1

One marvel of a day he had walked so far that when he returned the moon was high and full and all the world was purple shadow and silver. Votes: 1

When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen. It was true too . . . she was as tyrannical and selfish a little pig as ever lived. Votes: 0

Folks who make such a fuss about their rights turn them into wrongs sometimes. -- (from Behind the White Brick) Votes: 0

As long as you have a garden you have a future and as long as you have a future you are alive. Votes: 0

Mistress Mary Quite Contrary Votes: 0

All women are princesses , it is our right. Votes: 0

I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young. They're still princesses. Votes: 0

Nothing in the world is quite as adorably lovely as a robin when he shows off and they are nearly always doing it. Votes: 0

Somehow, something always happens just before things get to the very worst. It is as if Magic did it. If I could only just remember that always. The worse thing never quite comes. Votes: 0

When a man looks at the stars, he grows calm and forgets small things. They answer his questions and show him that his earth is only one of the million worlds. Hold your soul still and look upward often, and you will understand their speech. Never forget the stars. Votes: 0

Perhaps there is a language which is not made of words and everything in the world understands it. Votes: 0

Sometimes since I've been in the garden I've looked up through the trees at the sky and I have had a strange feeling of being happy as if something was pushing and drawing in my chest and making me breathe fast. Magic is always pushing and drawing and making things out of nothing. Everything is made out of magic, leaves and trees, flowers and birds, badgers and foxes and squirrels and people. So it must be all around us. In this garden - in all the places. Votes: 0

I pretend I am a princess,so that I can try and behave like one. Votes: 0

I am sure there is Magic in everything, only we have not sense enough to get hold of it and make it do things for us Votes: 0

Nothing in the world is so strong as a kind heart... Votes: 0

It made her think that it was curious how much nicer a person looked when he smiled. She had not thought of it before. Votes: 0

Two worst things as can happen to a child is never to have his own way - or always to have it. Votes: 0

Never did she find anything so difficult as to keep herself from losing her temper when she was suddenly disturbed while absorbed in a book. People who are fond of books know the feeling of irritation which sweeps over them at such a moment. The temptation to be unreasonable and snappish is one not easy to manage. "It makes me feel as if something had hit me," Sara had told Ermengarde once in confidence. "And as if I want to hit back. I have to remember things quickly to keep from saying something ill-tempered. Votes: 0

In the garden there was nothing which was not quite like themselves - nothing which did not understand the wonderfulness of what was happening to them - the immense, tender, terrible, heart-breaking beauty and solemnity of Eggs. If there had been one person in that garden who had not known through all his or her innermost being that if an Egg were taken away or hurt the whole world would whirl round and crash through space and come to an end... there could have been no happiness even in that golden springtime air. Votes: 0

a person who was clever ought to be clever enough not to be unjust or deliberately unkind to anyone. Votes: 0

Everything's a story - You are a story -I am a story. Votes: 0

Never did she find anything so difficult as to keep herself from losing her temper when she was suddenly disturbed while absorbed in a book. Votes: 0

She liked books more than anything else, and was, in fact, always inventing stories of beautiful things and telling them to herself. Votes: 0

Perhaps you can feel if you can't hear,” was her fancy. "Perhaps kind thoughts reach people somehow, even through windows and doors and walls. Perhaps you feel a little warm and comforted, and don't know why, when I am standing here in the cold and hoping you will get well and happy again. Votes: 0

death is always sudden however long one waits. Votes: 0

So long as I know what's expected of me, I can manage. Votes: 0

It's so different to be a sparrow. But nobody asked this rat if he wanted to be a rat when he was made. Nobody said, 'Wouldn't you rather be a sparrow? Votes: 0

There's nothing so strong as rage, except what makes you hold it in—that's stronger. It's a good thing not to answer your enemies. I scarcely ever do. Votes: 0

You see, now that trials have come, they have shown that I am NOT a nice child. I was afraid they would. Perhaps... that is what they were sent for... I suppose there MIGHT be good in things, even if we don't see it. Votes: 0

Soldiers don't complain...I am not going to do it; I will pretend this is part of a war. Votes: 0

Her affection for everything she could love increased. Votes: 0

The difficulty will be to keep her from learning too fast and too much. She is always sitting with her little nose burrowing into books. She doesn't read them, Miss Minchin; she gobbles them up as if she were a little wolf instead of a little girl. She is always starving for new books to gobble, and she wants grown-up books--great, big, fat ones--French and German as well as English--history and biography and poets, and all sorts of things. Drag her away from her books when she reads too much. Votes: 0

You either build up or you tear down. You either keep in the light where you can see, or you stand in the dark and fight everything that comes near you, because you can't see and you think it's an enemy. Votes: 0

... justice is mercy's highest self. Votes: 0

There is naught a man or woman can not learn who hath the wit. Votes: 0

we do not believe until we want a thing and feel that we shall die if 'tis not granted to us, and then we kneel and kneel and believe, because we must have someone to ask help from. Votes: 0

when the day comes that I kneel by your bedside and see your eyes close, or you kneel by mine, it must be that the one who waits behind shall know the parting is not all. Votes: 0

Children's as good as 'rithmetic to set you findin' out things. Votes: 0

As long as one has a garden, one has a future. As long as one has a future, one is alive. Votes: 0

"It's so beautiful!" she said, a little breathless with her speed. "You never saw anything so beautiful! It has come! I thought it had come that other morning, but it was only coming. It is here now! It has come, the Spring!" Votes: 0

On the hob was a little brass kettle, hissing and boiling; spread upon the floor was a warm, thick rug; before the fire was a folding-chair, unfolded and with cushions on it; by the chair was a small folding-table, unfolded, covered with a white cloth, and upon it were spread small covered dishes, a cup and saucer, and a tea-pot; on the bed were new, warm coverings, a curious wadded silk robe, and some books. The little, cold, miserable room seemed changed into Fairyland. It was actually warm and glowing. Votes: 0

Magic is in her just as it is in Dickon," said Colin. "It makes her think of ways to do things - nice things. Votes: 0

Of course there must be lots of Magic in the world, but people don't know what it is like or how to make it. Votes: 0

And they both began to laugh over nothing as children will when they are happy together. And they laughed so that in the end they were making as much noise as if they had been two ordinary healthy natural ten-year-old creatures—instead of a hard, little, unloving girl and a sickly boy who believed that he was going to die. Votes: 0

People never like me and I never like people Votes: 0

At that moment a very good thing was happening to her. Four good things had happened to her, in fact, since she came to Misselthwaite Manor. She had felt as if she had understood a robin and that he had understood her; she had run in the wind until her blood had grown warm; she had been healthily hungry for the first time in her life; and she had found out what it was to be sorry for someone. Votes: 0

That's what I look at some people for. I like to know about them. I think them over afterward. Votes: 0

If I go on talking and talking...and telling you things about pretending, I shall bear it better. You don't forget, but you bear it better. Votes: 0

She made herself stronger by fighting with the wind. Votes: 0

I dare say it is rather hard to be a rat,” she mused. "Nobody likes you. People jump and run away and scream out: ‘Oh, a horrid rat!' I shouldn't like people to scream and jump and say: ‘Oh, a horrid Sara!' the moment they saw me, and set traps for me, and pretend they were dinner. It's so different to be a sparrow. But nobody asked this rat if he wanted to be a rat when he was made. Nobody said: ‘Wouldn't you rather be a sparrow? Votes: 0

Whatever comes cannot alter one thing. Votes: 0

Things happen to people by accident. Votes: 0

It's so easy that when you begin you can't stop. You just go on and on doing it always. Votes: 0

Their eyes met with a singular directness of gaze. Between them a spark passed which was not afterwards to be extinguished, though neither of them knew the moment of its kindling... Votes: 0

There's naught as nice as th' smell o' good clean earth, except th' smell o' fresh growin' things when th' rain falls on 'em. Votes: 0

What you have to do with your mind, when your body is miserable, is to make it think of something else. Votes: 0

To speak robin to a robin is like speaking French to a Frenchman Votes: 0

Much more surprising things can happen to anyone who, when a disagreeable or discouraged thought comes into his mind, just has the sense to remember in time and push it out by putting in an agreeable, determinedly courageous one. Two things cannot be in one place. Votes: 0

One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live forever and ever and ever. Votes: 0

The truth is that when one is still a child-or even if one is grown up- and has been well fed, and has slept long and softly and warm; when one has gone to sleep in the midst of a fairy story, and has wakened to find it real, one cannot be unhappy or even look as if one were; and one could not, if one tried, keep a glow of joy out of one's eyes. Votes: 0

But I suppose there might be good in things, even if we don't see it. Votes: 0

If Sara had been a boy and lived a few centuries ago, her father used to say, 'she would have gone about the country with her sword drawn, rescuing and defending everyone in distress. She always wants to fight when she sees people in trouble. Votes: 0

Might I," quavered Mary, "might I have a bit of earth? Votes: 0

She did not care very much for other little girls, but if she had plenty of books she could console herself. Votes: 0

Of course there must be lots of Magic in the world," he said wisely one day, "but people don't know what it is like or how to make it. Perhaps the beginning is just to say nice things are going to happen until you make them happen. I am going to try and experiment. Votes: 0

When a man is overcome by anger, he has a poisoned fever. He loses his strength, he loses his power over himself and over others. He throws away time in which he might have gained the end he desires. The is no time for anger in the world. - The Ancient One Votes: 0

I don't know who it is," she said; "but somebody cares for me a little. I have a friend. Votes: 0

Never thee stop believin' in th' Big Good Thing an' knowin' th' world's full of it - and call it what tha' likes. Tha' wert singin' to it when I come into t' garden. Votes: 0

I shall live forever and ever and ever ' he cried grandly. 'I shall find out thousands and thousands of things. I shall find out about people and creatures and everything that grows - like Dickon - and I shall never stop making Magic. I'm well I'm well Votes: 0

...and her mother had been a great beauty who cared only to go to parties and amuse herself with gay parties. Votes: 0

Listen to th' wind wutherin' round the house," she said. "You could bare stand up on the moor if you was out on it tonight." Mary did not know what "wutherin'" meant until she listened, and then she understood. It must mean that hollow shuddering sort of roar which rushed round and round the house, as if the giant no one could see were buffeting it and beating at the walls and windows to try to break in. But one knew he could not get in, and somehow it made one feel very safe and warm inside a room with a red coal fire. Votes: 0

Yes," answered Sara, nodding. "Adversity tries people, and mine has tried you and proved how nice you are. Votes: 0

She looked into the staring glass eyes and complacent face, and suddenly a sort of heartbroken rage seized her. She lifted her little savage hand and knocked Emily off the chair, bursting into a passion of sobbing- Sara who never cried. Votes: 0

Oh,Sara. It is like a story." "It is a story...everything is a story. You are a story-I am a story. Miss Minchin is a story. Votes: 0

People never like me and I never like people," she thought. "And I never can talk as the Crawford children could. They were always talking and laughing and making noises. Votes: 0

Are you learning me by heart, little Sara?" he said, stroking her hair. "No," she answered. "I know you by heart. You are inside my heart. Votes: 0

Perhaps to be able to learn things quickly isn't everything. To be kind is worth a great deal to other people...Lots of clever people have done harm and have been wicked. Votes: 0

The Magic in this garden has made me stand up and know I am going to live to be a man. Votes: 0

When I was at school my jography told me th' earth was shaped like a orange an' I found out before I was ten that th' whole orange doesn't belong to nobody. No one owns more than his bit of a quarter an' there's times it seems there's not enow quarters to go around. But don't you-none o' you- think as you own th' whole orange or you'll find out you're mistaken, an' you won't find it without hard knocks. What children learns from children, is that there's no sense grabbin' at th' whole orange-peel an' all. If you do you'll likely not get even th' pips, an' them's too bitter to eat. Votes: 0

When you will not fly into a passion people know you are stronger than they are, because you are strong enough to hold in your rage, and they are not, and they say stupid things they wish they hadn't said afterward. There's nothing so strong as rage, except what makes you hold it in--that's stronger. It's a good thing not to answer your enemies. Votes: 0