Quotes from Laura Ingalls Wilder

We had no choice. Sadness was a dangerous as panthers and bears. the wilderness needs your whole attention.

These times are too progressive. Everything has changed too fast. Railroads and telegraphs and kerosene and coal stoves -- they're good to have but the trouble is, folks get to depend on 'em.

This earthly life is a battle,' said Ma. 'If it isn't one thing to contend with, it's another. It always has been so, and it always will be. The sooner you make up your mind to that, the better off you are, and more thankful for your pleasures.

Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat. In our mad rush for progress and modern improvements let's be sure we take along with us all the old-fashioned things worth while.

Oh no, I never do much ironing, except the outside clothes. We must not iron out the fresh air and sunshine, you know. It is much more healthful not to, the doctors say." Seriously, there is something very refreshing about sheets and pillow slips just fresh from the line, after being washed and dried in the sun and air. Just try them that way and see if your sleep is not sweeter.

Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.

We start learning the minute we're born, Laura. And if we're wise, we don't stop until the Lord calls us home.

Never bet your money on another man's game.

There is nothing wrong with God's plan that man should earn his bread by the sweat of his brow.

We must get rid of the habit of classing all women together politically and thinking of the 'woman's vote' as one and indivisible.

Money hasn't any value of its own; it represents the stored up energy of men and women and is really just someone's promise to pay a certain amount of that energy.

It is the simple things of life that make living worthwhile, the sweet fundamental things such as love and duty, work and rest, and living close to nature.

Every job is good if you do your best and work hard. A man who works hard stinks only to the ones that have nothing to do but smell.

That which is the wonder of one age is the commonplace of the next.

People used to have time to live and enjoy themselves, but there is no time anymore for anything but work, work, work.

If enough people think of a thing and work hard enough at it, I guess it's pretty nearly bound to happen, wind and weather permitting.

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.

It is a good idea sometimes to think of the importance and dignity of our every-day duties. It keeps them from being so tiresome; besides, others are apt take us at our own valuation.

The object of all education is to make folks fit to live.

Many a good beginning makes a bad ending.

Let's be cheerful! We have no more right to steal the brightness out of the day for our own family than we have to steal the purse of a stranger.

It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.

In these days when we feed those who are not hungry, we are stealing from those who are starving, even though the food is our own.