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“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.”
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“The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.”
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“Laura felt a warmth inside her. It was very small, but it was strong. It was steady, like a tiny light in the dark, and it burned very low but no winds could make it flicker because it would not give up.”
― The Long Winter
― The Long Winter
“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 Christmastime.”
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“Home is the nicest word there is.”
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“As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful. They are the things that fill our lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness -- just the pure air to breathe and the strength to breath it; just warmth and shelter and home folks; just plain food that gives us strength; the bright sunshine on a cold day; and a cool breeze when the day is warm.”
― Writings to Young Women from Laura Ingalls Wilder: On Wisdom & Virtues
― Writings to Young Women from Laura Ingalls Wilder: On Wisdom & Virtues
“There's no great loss without some small gain.”
― Little House on the Prairie
― Little House on the Prairie
“The only stupid thing about words is the spelling of them.”
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“There is no comfort anywhere for anyone who dreads to go home.”
― Little Town on the Prairie
― Little Town on the Prairie
“Persons appear to us according to the light we throw upon them from our own minds. -Laura Ingalls Wilder, author (1867-1957)”
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“Remember well, and bear in mind, a constant friend is hard to find.”
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“As you read my stories of long ago I hope you will remember that things truly worthwhile and that will give you happiness are the same now as they were then. It is not the things you have that make you happy. It is love and kindness and helping each other and just plain being good. ”
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“The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies.”
― Laura Ingalls Wilder, Farm Journalist: Writings from the Ozarks
― Laura Ingalls Wilder, Farm Journalist: Writings from the Ozarks
“A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing.”
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“When the fiddle had stopped singing Laura called out softly, "What are days of auld lang syne, Pa?"
"They are the days of a long time ago, Laura," Pa said. "Go to sleep, now."
But Laura lay awake a little while, listening to Pa's fiddle softly playing and to the lonely sound of the wind in the Big Woods,…
She was glad that the cozy house, and Pa and Ma and the firelight and the music, were now. They could not be forgotten, she thought, because now is now. It can never be a long time ago.”
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"They are the days of a long time ago, Laura," Pa said. "Go to sleep, now."
But Laura lay awake a little while, listening to Pa's fiddle softly playing and to the lonely sound of the wind in the Big Woods,…
She was glad that the cozy house, and Pa and Ma and the firelight and the music, were now. They could not be forgotten, she thought, because now is now. It can never be a long time ago.”
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“The trouble with organizing a thing is that pretty soon folks get to paying more attention to the organization than to what they're organized for.”
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“She thought to herself, "This is now." She was glad that the cozy house, and Pa and Ma and the firelight and the music, were now. They could not be forgotten, she thought, because now is now. It can never be a long time ago.”
― Little House in the Big Woods
― Little House in the Big Woods
“We who live in quiet places have the opportunity to become acquainted with ourselves, to think our own thoughts and live our own lives in a way that is not possible for those keeping up with the crowd.”
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“We'd never get anything fixed to suit us if we waited for things to suit us before we started.”
― By the Shores of Silver Lake
― By the Shores of Silver Lake
“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. ”
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“We had no choice. Sadness was a dangerous as panthers and bears. the wilderness needs your whole attention.”
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“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.”
― A Family Collection: Life on the Farm and in the Country, Making a Home; the Ways of the World, a Woman's Role
― A Family Collection: Life on the Farm and in the Country, Making a Home; the Ways of the World, a Woman's Role
“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.”
― Little Town on the Prairie
― Little Town on the Prairie
“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.”
― The Long Winter
― The Long Winter
“We start learning the minute we're born, Laura. And if we're wise, we don't stop until the Lord calls us home.”
― Little House on the Prairie
― Little House on the Prairie
“Vices are simply overworked virtues, anyway. Economy and frugality are to be commended but follow them on in an increasing ratio and what do we find at the other end? A miser! If we overdo the using of spare moments we may find an invalid at the end, while perhaps if we allowed ourselves more idle time we would conserve our nervous strength and health to more than the value the work we could accomplish by emulating at all times the little busy bee.
I once knew a woman, not very strong, who to the wonder of her friends went through a time of extraordinary hard work without any ill effects.
I asked her for her secret and she told me that she was able to keep her health, under the strain, because she took 20 minutes, of each day in which to absolutely relax both mind and body. She did not even “set and think.” She lay at full length, every muscle and nerve relaxed and her mind as quiet as her body. This always relieved the strain and renewed her strength.”
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I once knew a woman, not very strong, who to the wonder of her friends went through a time of extraordinary hard work without any ill effects.
I asked her for her secret and she told me that she was able to keep her health, under the strain, because she took 20 minutes, of each day in which to absolutely relax both mind and body. She did not even “set and think.” She lay at full length, every muscle and nerve relaxed and her mind as quiet as her body. This always relieved the strain and renewed her strength.”
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“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. ”
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“Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.”
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“Never bet your money on another man's game.”
― Farmer Boy
― Farmer Boy
“There is nothing wrong with God's plan that man should earn his bread by the sweat of his brow.”
― Writings to Young Women from Laura Ingalls Wilder: On Wisdom & Virtues
― Writings to Young Women from Laura Ingalls Wilder: On Wisdom & Virtues
