Boys Climbing a Tree, Cartoon for a Tapestry, 1790-92

While I finished Little Men some time ago, I'm just now getting around to posting my favorite quotes -- you know, raising kids and Christmas and all. . .  I really loved Little Men.  While it may not be the "great work of literature" that Little Women is regarded as, it really hit a soft spot in my heart.  I have worked with pregnant young ladies, girls of varying ages, and boys of varying ages, all at different times in my life.  While I know God has called me to minister to pregnant girls or women in crisis pregnancy, I truly enjoyed my time working in a boys cottage of a children's home.  Boys are just great -- so unique and different from girls.  While girls can be petty, manipulative, and emotionally crippling; boys are pretty up-front, forgiving, and friendly.  As I read Little Men I was filled with memories of my time in the boys cottage, and I plan to share some of those memories in the next few days.  But, for now, here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

HONORING HUSBAND

". . .Mrs. Jo felt that she had received the best her husband could give her, by saying that he found his truest rest and happiness in her society." (pg. 221)

"Daisy knew nothing about woman's rights; she quietly took all she wanted, and no one denied her claim, because she did not undertake what she could not carry out, but unconsiously used the all-powerful right of her own influence to win from others any privilege for which she had proved her fitness." (pg. 251)

RAISING CHILDREN

"His uncle was fitting him for college, and his aunt for a happy home of his own hereafter, because she carefully fostered in him gentle manners, love of children, respect for women, old and young, and helpful ways about the house." (pg. 19)

". . .Grandpa March cultivated the little mind with the tender wisdom of a modern Pythagoras -- not tasking it with long, hard lessons, parrot-learned, but helping it to unfold as naturally and beautifully as sun and dew help roses bloom." (pg. 20)

"There were no rewards in school, but Mr. Bhaer's 'Well done!' and Mrs. Bhaer's good report on the conscience book taught them to love duty for its own sake, and try to do it faithfully, sure that sooner or later the recompense would come." (pg. 120)

"July had come, and haying begun; the little gardens were doing fine, and the long summer days were full of pleasant hours.  The house stood open from morning till night, and the lads lived out of doors, except at school-time.  The lessons were short, and there were many holidays, for the Bhaers believed in cultivating healthy bodies by much exercise, and our short summers are best used in out-of-door work." (pg. 150)

". . .she believed that the small hopes and plans and pleasures of children should be tenderly respected by grown-up people, and never rudely thwarted or ridiculed." (pg.189)

". . .she liked to have her penalties do their own work and did not spoil the effect by too much moralizing." (pg.213)

MANAGING HOME

". . .he loved these simple domestic festivals, and encouraged them with all his heart, for they made home so pleasant that the boys did not care to go elsewhere for fun." (pg. 351)

TIME FOR SELF

"I shall devote the whole of my plot to the largest crop of patience I can get, for that is what I need most." (pg. 45)