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Quotes from Frances Hodgson Burnett

She had never felt sorry for herself; she had only felt tired and cross, because she disliked people and things so much.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
She is hungrier than I am, she said to herself. She's starving. But her hand trembled when she put down the fourth bun. I'm not starving, she said—and she put down the fifth.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
Lottie had always found, while in her own nursery at home, kicking and screaming would always be quieted by any means she insisted upon. Poor plump Miss. Amelia was trying first one method, then another. Poor darling! she said one moment; I know you haven't any mamma, poor- Then in quite another tone: If you don't stop, Lottie, I will shake you. Poor little angel! There-there! You wicked, bad, detestable child, I will smack you! I will!
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
nothing, and Mr. Havisham kept her from suspecting
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
It was a long corridor and it branched into other corridors and it led her up short flights of steps which mounted to others again. There
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
He's been spoiled 'til salt won't save him.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
And they both began to laugh over nothings 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.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
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.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
The great strength she had used in the old days to conquer and subdue, to win her will and to defend her way, seemed now a power but to protect the suffering and uphold the weak, and this she did, not alone in hovels but in the brilliant court and world of fashion, for there she found suffering and weakness also, all the more bitter and sorrowful since it dared not cry aloud.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
I can't say the words. They're so queer.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
worst village in that part of the country. Mr. Mordaunt had told her a great many of his difficulties and discouragements, and she had found out a great deal by herself. The agents who had managed the property had always been chosen to please the Earl, and had cared nothing for the degradation and wretchedness of the poor tenants. Many things, therefore, had been neglected which should have been
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
thoughts—just mere thoughts—are as powerful as electric batteries—as good for one as sunlight is, or as bad for one as poison. 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.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
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.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
A body 'as to move gentle an' speak low when wild things is about.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
Yorkshire word and means spoiled and
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
and there she was standing on the grass, which seemed to have turned green, and with the sun pouring down on her and warm sweet wafts about her and the fluting and twittering and singing coming from every bush and tree. She clasped her hands for pure joy and looked up in the sky and it was so blue and pink and pearly and white and flooded with springtime light that she felt as if she must flute and sing aloud herself
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
The robin was tremendously busy. He was very much pleased to see gardening begun on his own estate. He had often wondered at Ben Weatherstaff. Where gardening is done all sorts of delightful things to eat are turned up with the soil. Now here was this new kind of creature who was not half Ben's size and yet had had the sense to come into his garden and begin at once.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
side with his head up in the air and his eyes full of laughter walked as strongly and steadily as any boy in Yorkshire—Master Colin.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
Dickon's a kind lad an' animals likes him.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
Nothing is more interesting than repressed emotion. The appearance of sardonic coldness and stoicism which has deceived you is but a hollow mockery; beneath it I secrete a maelstrom of impassioned feeling and a mausoleum of blighted hopes.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
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.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
I'm growing fatter, said Mary
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
In each century since the beginning of the world wonderful things have been discovered. In the last century more amazing things were found out than in any century before. In this new century hundreds of things still more astounding will be brought to light. 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.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
Now, young ladies, I have a few words to say to you," she announced. "She's going to make a speech," whispered one of the girls. "I wish it was over." Sara felt rather uncomfortable. As this was her party, it was probable that the speech was about her. It is not agreeable to stand in a schoolroom and have a speech made about you.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett