After celebrating Louisa May Alcott’s birthday and literary life in my recent post, “Your Ship,” I was inspired to pull from a shelf a slim volume called “Louisa May Alcott’s Little Instruction Book,” which was gathered by two other writers, who also found her inspiring and were clever enough to craft a book from her pithy sayings. There’s no end to the creativity of writers, is there? Armed with this notion, I thought I’d share some wit and wisdom from Louisa to help us each guide our own ship of words today:
“If you exercise your mind, it will get hungry just as your body does.” Little Men
“Have regular hours for work and play, make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well.” Little Women
“To the inspiration of necessity, we owe half the wise, beautiful, and useful blessings of
the world.” Little Women
“Now and then genius carries all before it, but not often. We have to climb slowly, with many slips and falls.” Jo’s Boys
“It takes three or four women to get each man into, through, and out of the world.” Jo’s Boys
“Young ladies in America love independence as much as their ancestors did, and are admired and respected for supporting themselves.” Little Women
“Aim at the highest, and never mind the money.” Little Women
“Prosperity suits some people, and they blossom best in a glow of sunshine; others need the shade, and are the sweeter for a touch of frost.” Jo’s Boys
“Where the heart is the mind works best.” Little Men
“It adds so much to one’s happiness to love the task one does.” Jo’s Boys
“Have your fun, my dear, but if you must earn your bread, try to make it sweet with cheerfulness, not bitter with the daily regret that it isn’t cake.” Jo’s Boys
“If men and women would only trust, understand, and help each other as…children do, what a capital place the world would be!” Little Men
“Work is wholesome, and there is plenty for everyone; it keeps us from ennui and mischief, is good for health and spirits, and gives us a sense of power and independence better than money or fashion.” Little Women
“Hope and keep busy,” that’s the motto for us…” Little Women
Uplifted and emboldened by Louisa, let’s all write on!
