If the research is right, a book published today might sell 500 copies. At least that’s an average one often hears bandied about. Female authors are underrepresented in the publishing market. And feminine protagonists are making a splash today as though it had never before occurred to authors (or readers) that girls might actually have brains (or dexterity with a bow and arrow).
But a little over a hundred years ago, a female author—one Lucy Maud “L. M.” Montgomery—wrote a book I’d hardly expect to be revolutionary. In fact, when I used to see the commercials for television’s Road to Avonlea, which took place in the fictional Prince Edward Island community from Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, I immediately dismissed it as a program I’d never watch. I was convinced the show, and the books that preceded it, were similar to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie series: they had entirely too much gingham and not nearly enough relatable story.
As it turns out, Montgomery’s tale, beloved by countless readers, was not only relatable, but indeed revolutionary. For this, I’ll forgive the gingham. Published in 1908, the book sold 19, 000 copies in its first few months and went to print 10 times in the first year. The book would ultimately sell over 50 million copies (take that, average book sales) across the globe—a book published at the turn of the century (a century ago) by a female author with a female protagonist, and without Amazon to provide related products, reader reviews, and expedited shipping.
This children’s classic tells the tale of a young orphan sent to the home of a conservative brother and sister, Matthew and Marilla, who had asked for a boy to help them out with work around the farm. They were initially disappointed at the arrival of a red-headed girl named Anne, who despite her impetuous and passionate ways, eventually wins them over with her generous heart and lively spirit. While Anne at first struggles to find her way in the close-knit community and a family of older caretakers who’ve never raised a child, in the end she wins the respect and admiration of all (even those who are hesitant to admit it). And of course there is the ongoing tussle between Anne and her rival, Gilbert Blythe, to add a surprising (at the time) fire of female independence and intellectual equality.
For longtime lovers of Avonlea and new readers alike, we’ve gathered a collection of ten great Anne of Green Gables quotes. Perhaps you’ll share your favorite with us in the comments.
1.
There are plenty of people in Avonlea and out of it, who can attend closely to their neighbor’s business by dint of neglecting their own; but Mrs. Rachel Lynde was one of those capable creatures who can manage their own concerns and those of other folks in the bargain. (the Narrator)
2.
It’s delightful when your imaginations come true, isn’t it? (Anne)
3.
Isn’t it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive—it’s such an interesting world. It wouldn’t be half so interesting if we knew all about everything, would it? There’d be no scope for imagination, then, would there? (Anne)
4.
I always say goodnight to the things I love, just as I would to people. (Anne)
5.
Don’t you just love poetry that gives you a crinkly feeling up and down your back? (Anne)
6.
7.
I have to groan heartrendingly in one of them, and it’s really hard to get up a good artistic groan, Marilla. (Anne)
8.
I don’t believe I’d really want to be a sensible person, because they are so unromantic. (Anne)
9.
I read it to Marilla and she said it was stuff and nonsense. Then I read it to Matthew and he said it was fine. That is the kind of critic I like. (Anne)
10.
… I like people who make me love them. It saves me so much trouble in making myself love them. (Aunt Josephine)
Photo by Gonzalo Díaz Fornaro, Creative Commons license via Flickr. Post by LW Lindquist. Quotes selected by L.L. Barkat.
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Nancy Franson says
My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes.
Each day is fresh, with no mistakes in it.
In the end, I suppose it was a rather romantic way to perish. For a mouse.
Diana, wilt thou grant me a lock of thy jet-black tresses?
Oh, just too many to name!
L. L. Barkat says
These are great, Nancy. I don’t remember the mouse and the tresses quotes (gosh, and I just read the book last week 😉 )
Name as many as you like. It’s an Anne of Green Gables celebration!
Nancy Franson says
The tresses quote is from when Anne and Diana must be parted on account of the unpleasantness with the raspberry cordial (on account of Anne bring next door to a heathen)
The mouse quote might only be in the movie version (which I’ve seen a time or two and practically have memorized)
LLB says
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” — Anne
“Why must people kneel down to pray? If I really wanted to pray I’ll tell you what I’d do. I’d go out into a great big field all alone or in the deep, deep woods and I’d look up into the sky—up—up—up—into that lovely blue sky that looks as if there was no end to its blueness. And then I’d just feel a prayer.” — Anne
“Life is worth living as long as there’s a laugh in it.” — Anne
Nancy Franson says
Amen, Anne Shirley.
L. L. Barkat says
She’s one wise little girl. The voice of the best that’s in all of us, I think.
Rebekah Witzke says
Oh, I am in the DEPTHS of despair…
L. L. Barkat says
Her expressions are truly amusing (even as they are heartfelt in those moments 🙂 )
Nancy Franson says
Will you please call me Cordelia?
Bethany says
Love this.
Megan Willome says
I was just going to say “raspberry cordial” and leave it at that. I also always remember “twins three times in succession.”
“I sometimes think that is why I’m such a troublesome person. If I was just the one Anne it would be ever so much more comfortable, but then it wouldn’t be half as interesting.”
“But I can just feel she’s glad she’s a Christian and that she’d be one even if she could get to heaven without it.”
“Folks that has brought up children know that there’s no hard and fast method in the world that’ll suit every child. But them as never have think it’s all as plain and easy as Rule of Three–just set your three terms down so fashion, and the sum’ll work out correct. But flesh and blood don’t come under the head of arithmetic, and that’s where Marilla Cuthbert makes her mistake.”
I have more, but I’ll stop. 🙂
L. L. Barkat says
No need to stop. This is a place that is for sharing what you want. An Anne festival! 🙂
LOVE the twins three times in succession section. Anne is hilarious without meaning to be.
Bethany says
“Remember when the time comes that I forgive you. But please don’t ask me to eat anything, especially boiled pork and greens. Boiled pork and greens are so unromantic when one is in affliction.”
L. L. Barkat says
LOVED this. And Matthew was in agreement, it seemed. Silently enduring the boiled pork and greens for supper while Anne suffered in her room.
Diana Trautwein says
“People laugh at me because I use big words. But if you have big ideas, you have to use big words to express them, haven’t you?”
“Dear old world’, she murmured, ‘you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.”
“It is ever so much easier to be good if your clothes are fashionable.”
“But if you call me Anne, please call me Anne with an ‘e’.”
Yeah, I’m partial to that redhead, that’s for sure.
L. L. Barkat says
All of these were ones I wanted to add, but then it would have been a Top 14 😉
Too many lines to love (at least for a Top 10 🙂 )
Megan Willome says
Literally laughed out loud reading the one about needing fashionable clothes to be good.
L. L. Barkat says
It’s a very amusing book. Last night I was reading it to the girls and *we* laughed out loud at this one:
“Ruby Gillis says when she grows up she’s going to have ever so many beaus on the string and have them all crazy about her; but I think that would be too exciting. I’d rather have just one in his right mind.”
Sharon says
“Do you ever imagine things differently from what they really are?” Anne Shirley
“No” Marilla Cuthbert
“Oh Marilla, how much you miss.” Anne Shirley
Christine Guzman says
Anne Shirley’s comment: Do you ever imagine things differently than they really are? is revealing comment written by Lucy Maud Montgomery This is a fictional story on the home children sent from Britain to both Canada and Australia. In Canada this took place from the late 1800’s to 1940’s – approx. 100,000 children, only 2% of them were orphans – children ages 8-16. Some estimates are that 12% of Canadian Society originates from the home children. In Australia this continued on into the 1950’s and included children as young as 4. Stories of Fiction are based on some true facts, The unfortunate thing is that Anne of Green Gables gets all the attention, without the other stories that recognized the plight of all the home children: many were mistreated, felt a permanent disconnect from their families of origin and siblings that they came on the boat with, many were treated as child labourers and not as accepted parts of the families that took them in. While it is a charming story, I’ve also watched many of the shows/movies. What is disturbing is that this central Canadian story of “child labour legitimized” seems to prevent the rest of the “Home Childrens” story being given coverage..
L. L. Barkat says
Christine, I’m glad you raised this. It wasn’t lost on me that Matthew and Marilla originally wanted a boy simply for labor purposes. And, of course, Anne’s story itself that she tells Marilla is testament to the terrible plight of the orphan. To Marilla’s credit, she gave up her desire for labor and exchanged it for Matthew’s assertion, “We might be some good to her.” So, the story is about the saving of Matthew and Marilla as much as it’s about the saving of Anne. This is one of the reasons I was surprised that the book did so well (19,000 copies selling right off!). Did the society that it was printed for not see the radical nature of what Montgomery was doing here? Or was it ready to be chided in the most convincing of ways? Or, was the book just a useless balm for guilty consciences? I have my wonderings now, truly.
L. L. Barkat says
Also, could you say more about only 2% of them being orphans? What was the dynamic there? Seems really important.