L M Montgomery Quotes

Oh, Marilla, I thought I was happy before. Now I know that I just dreamed a pleasant dream of happiness. This is the reality.

~ L.m. Montgomery

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.

~ L.m. Montgomery

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

~ L.m. Montgomery

I suppose that's how it looks in prose. But it's very different if you look at it through poetry…and I think it's nicer…' Anne recovered herself and her eyes shone and her cheeks flushed… 'to look at it through poetry.

~ L.m. Montgomery

I hate to lend a book I love…it never seems quite the same when it comes back to me…

~ L.m. Montgomery

…I'm so thankful for friendship. It beautifies life so much.

~ L.m. Montgomery

Kindred spirits alone do not change with the changing years.

~ L.m. Montgomery

Even when I'm alone I have real good company — dreams and imaginations and pretendings. I like to be alone now and then, just to think over things and taste them. But I love friendships — and nice, jolly little times with people.

~ L.m. Montgomery

Thank goodness, we can choose our friends. We have to take our relatives as they are, and be thankful…

~ L.m. Montgomery

We've had a beautiful friendship, Diana. We've never marred it by one quarrel or coolness or unkind word; and I hope it will always be so. But things can't be quite the same after this. You'll have other interests. I'll just be on the outside.

~ L.m. Montgomery

People who are different from other people are always called peculiar,' said Anne.

~ L.m. Montgomery

It takes all sorts of people to make a world, as I've often heard, but I think there are some who could be spared,' Anne told her reflection in the east gable mirror that night.

~ L.m. Montgomery

She had dreamed some brilliant dreams during the past winter and now they lay in the dust around her. In her present mood of self-disgust, she could not immediately begin dreaming again. And she discovered that, while solitude with dreams is glorious, solitude without them has few charms.

~ L.m. Montgomery

Listen to the trees talking in their sleep,' she whispered, as he lifted her to the ground. 'What nice dreams they must have!

~ L.m. Montgomery

I'm so glad you're here, Anne,' said Miss Lavendar, nibbling at her candy. 'If you weren't I should be blue…very blue…almost navy blue. Dreams and make-believes are all very well in the daytime and the sunshine, but when dark and storm come they fail to satisfy. One wants real things then. But you don't know this…seventeen never knows it. At seventeen dreams do satisfy because you think the realities are waiting for you further on.

~ L.m. Montgomery

Anybody is liable to rheumatism in her legs, Anne. It's only old people who should have rheumatism in their souls, though. Thanks goodness, I never have. When you get rheumatism in your soul you might as well go and pick out your coffin.

~ L.m. Montgomery

I'm afraid of those cows,' protested poor Dora, seeing a prospect of escape.'The very idea of your being scared of those cows,' scoffed Davy. 'Why, they're both younger than you.

~ L.m. Montgomery

Words aren't made — they grow,' said Anne.

~ L.m. Montgomery

Don't be ridiculous, please.'The most insulting words in the world!

~ L.m. Montgomery

…determined to enjoy her luxury of grief uncomforted.

~ L.m. Montgomery

It's delightful when your imaginations come true, isn't it?

~ L.m. Montgomery

We _are_ rich,' said Anne staunchly. 'Why, we have sixteen years to our credit, and we are as happy as queens and we've all got imaginations, more or less. Look at that sea, girls - all silver and shallow and vision of things not seen. We couldn't enjoy its loveliness any more if we had millions of dollars and ropes of diamonds.

~ L.m. Montgomery

I think it is because I have a habit, when I am bored or disgusted with people of stepping suddenly into my own world and shutting the door. People resent this -- I suppose it is only natural to resent a door being shut in your face. They call it slyness when it is only self-defense.

~ L.m. Montgomery

Once upon a time--which, when you come to think of it, is reallythe only proper way to begin a story--the only way that reallysmacks of romance and fairyland--

~ L.m. Montgomery

She had never before minded being alone. Now she dreaded it. When she was alone now she felt so dreadfully alone.

~ L.m. Montgomery

The eastern sky above the firs was flushed faintly pink from the reflection of the west, and Anne was wondering dreamily if the spirit of color looked like that…

~ L.m. Montgomery

Look, do you see that poem?' she said suddenly, pointing.

~ L.m. Montgomery

We are never half so interesting when we have learned that language is given us to enable us to conceal our thoughts.

~ L.m. Montgomery

We always hate people who surprise our secrets…

~ L.m. Montgomery

Why should one hate you when you were so small? Could you be worth hating?

~ L.m. Montgomery

…hate's got to be a disease with me.

~ L.m. Montgomery

Heaven must be very beautiful, of course, the Bible says so — but, Anne, it won't be what I've been used to.

~ L.m. Montgomery

…I'm sorry, and a little dissatisfied as well. Miss Stacy told me long ago that by the time I was twenty my character would be formed, for good or evil. I don't feel that it's what it should be. It's full of flaws.' 'So's everybody's,' said Aunt Jamesina cheerfully. 'Mine's cracked in a hundred places. Your Miss Stacy likely meant that when you are twenty your character would have got its permanent bent in one direction or 'tother, and would go on developing in that line.

~ L.m. Montgomery

…but youth yearned to youth.

~ L.m. Montgomery

If a kiss could be seen I think it would look like a violet,' said Priscilla.Anne glowed.'I'm so glad you spoke that thought, Priscilla, instead of just thinking it and keeping it to yourself. This world would be a much more interesting place…although it is very interesting, anyhow…if people spoke out their real thoughts.

~ L.m. Montgomery

You must pay the penalty of growing-up, Paul. You must leave fairyland behind you.

~ L.m. Montgomery

That's the worst of growing up, and I'm beginning to realize it. The things you wanted so much when you were a child don't seem half so wonderful to you when you get them

~ L.m. Montgomery

Isn't it queer that the things we writhe over at night are seldom wicked things? Just humiliating ones.

~ L.m. Montgomery

…there was something about her that made you feel it was safe to tell her secrets.

~ L.m. Montgomery

Anne looked at the white young mother with a certain awe that had never entered into her feelings for Diana before. Could this pale woman with the rapture in her eyes be the little black-curled, rosy-cheeked Diana she had played with in vanished schooldays? It gave her a queer desolate feeling that she herself somehow belonged only in those past years and had no business in the present at all.

~ L.m. Montgomery