Rilla of Ingleside

“The body grows slowly and steadily but the soul grows by leaps and bounds. It may come to its full stature in an hour.””

— L. M. Montgomery

“There was something in her movements that made you think she never walked but always danced.””

— L. M. Montgomery

“It does not do to laugh at the pangs of youth. They are very terrible because youth has not yet learned that 'this, too, will pass away.””

— L. M. Montgomery

“I heard someone once say that the years from fifteen to nineteen are the best years in a girl's life.””

— L. M. Montgomery

“Before this war is over,' [Walter] said - or something said through his lips - 'every man and woman and child in Canada will feel it - you, Mary, will feel it - feel it to your heart's core. You will weep tears of blood over it. The Piper has come - and he will pipe until every corner of the world has heard his awful and irresistible music. It will be years before the dance of death is over - years, Mary. And in those years millions of hearts will break.””

— L. M. Montgomery

“Our sacrifice is greater than his," cried Rilla passionately. "Our boys give only themselves. We give them.””

— L. M. Montgomery

“Without shedding of blood there is no anything… Everything, it seems to me, has to be purchased by self-sacrifice. Our race has marked every step of its painful ascent with blood. And now torrents of it must flow again… I don’t think the war has been sent as a punishment for sin. I think it is the price humanity must pay for some blessing - some advance great enough to be worth the price which we may not live to see but which our children’s children will inherit.””

— L. M. Montgomery

“The only thing I envy about a cat is its purr," remarked Dr. Blythe once, listening to Doc's resonant melody. "It is the most contented sound in the world.””

— L. M. Montgomery

“And two years ago this morning I woke wondering what delightful gift the new day would give me. These are the two years I thought would be filled with fun." "Would you exchange them - now - for two years filled with fun " "No " said Rilla slowly. "I wouldn't. It's strange - isn't it - They have been two terrible years - and yet I have a queer feeling of thankfulness for them - as if they had brought me something very precious in all their pain. I wouldn't want to go back and be the girl I was two years ago not even if I could. Not that I think I've made any wonderful progress - but I'm not quite the selfish frivolous little doll I was then. I suppose I had a soul then Miss Oliver - but I didn't know it. I know it now - and that is worth a great deal - worth all the suffering of the past few years.””

— L. M. Montgomery