Tweetspeak Poetry

  • Home
  • FREE prompts
  • Earth Song
  • Every Day Poems—Subscribe! ✨
  • Teaching Tools
  • Books, Etc.
  • Patron Love

Top 10 Anne of Avonlea Quotes

By Will Willingham 8 Comments

Anne of Avonlea Top Quotes Red Hair

When you learn to read at age 3, it makes it much simpler to get on the fast track to national literary awards by age 15.

At least that’s how it worked for L.M. Montgomery (Lucy Maud for short).

Some people will say that reading keeps them alive. Let’s imagine that’s what happened with the young Montgomery: living in a home with storytellers and poets (and wall to wall books) helped her fight off the effects of typhoid fever that nearly took her life at the age of 5. She would get up from her sick bed in a house filled with words and go on as a teenager to win the Canada prize sponsored by the local Montreal Witness newspaper.

Montgomery wrote 20 novels over the course of her life, along with hundreds of short stories and poems. It was her magazine essays that helped establish her as a writer long before she was able to get a book published. Montgomery’s fiction, much of it revolving around the character of Anne Shirley who made her debut in Anne of Green Gables, allowed her to speak her mind in ways that, considering the times, would not otherwise have been possible, especially for a woman. Perhaps there is a little hint of that in a comment from Mr. Harrison (a character in Anne of Avonlea), when he said, “She can put a whole sermon, text, comment, and application, into six words, and throw it at you like a brick.”

Anne of Avonlea follows on Anne of Green Gables and tells the story of Anne, now supposedly becoming a responsible member of adult society. Here are 10 delightful quotes from the story:

1.

“Better leave it alone, Anne, that’s what. People don’t like being improved.”

—Rachel Lynde

2.

“I shall govern by affection, Mr. Harrison.”

—Anne Shirley

3.

“Isn’t it something to have started a soul along a path that may end in Shakespeare and Paradise Lost?”

—Ann Shirley

4.

“I detest that woman more than anybody I know. She can put a whole sermon, text, comment, and application, into six words, and throw it at you like a brick.”

—Mr. Harrison

5.

Anne Shirley: “If you had three candies in one hand and two in the other, how many would you have altogether?”

Lottie: “A mouthful.”

6.

“Everything that’s worth having is some trouble.”

—Anne Shirley

7.

“It is not every day one sees a soul…even of a poem.”

—Anne Shirley

8.

“I’ve prayed every night that God would give me enough grace to enable me to eat every bit of my porridge in the mornings. But I’ve never been able to do it yet, and whether it’s because I have too little grace or too much porridge I really can’t decide.”

—Paul Irving

9.

“I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.”

—Anne Shirley

10.

“I suppose that’s how it looks in prose. But it’s very different if you look at it through poetry.”

—Anne Shirley

Photo by Derek Gavey, Creative Commons via Flickr. 

How to Write a Poem 283 highHow to Write a Poem uses images like the buzz, the switch, the wave—from the Billy Collins poem “Introduction to Poetry”—to guide writers into new ways of writing poems. Excellent teaching tool. Anthology and prompts included.

“How to Write a Poem is a classroom must-have.”
—Callie Feyen, English Teacher, Maryland

BUY HOW TO WRITE A POEM NOW!

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Will Willingham
Follow Will
Will Willingham
Director of Many Things; Senior Editor, Designer and Illustrator at Tweetspeak Poetry
I used to be a claims adjuster, helping people and insurance companies make sense of loss. Now, I train other folks with ladders and tape measures to go and do likewise. Sometimes, when I’m not scaling small buildings or crunching numbers with my bare hands, I read Keats upside down. My first novel is Adjustments.
Will Willingham
Follow Will
Latest posts by Will Willingham (see all)
  • Earth Song Poem Featured on The Slowdown!—Birds in Home Depot - February 7, 2023
  • The Rapping in the Attic—Happy Holidays Fun Video! - December 21, 2022
  • Video: Earth Song: A Nature Poems Experience—Enchanting! - December 6, 2022

Filed Under: Anne of Green Gables, Blog, Books, Children's Stories, Quotes

Write with Us

About Will Willingham

I used to be a claims adjuster, helping people and insurance companies make sense of loss. Now, I train other folks with ladders and tape measures to go and do likewise. Sometimes, when I’m not scaling small buildings or crunching numbers with my bare hands, I read Keats upside down. My first novel is Adjustments.

Comments

  1. Maureen says

    February 25, 2016 at 1:59 pm

    Simple Poetry . . .

    Pearls slipping off,
    a mouthful

    of affection, like candies—
    three in one hand

    two in the other

    *

    That woman in Paradise—
    she did not believe

    how God sees
    she started along

    the path to trouble.

    *

    I am having some
    trouble with Shakespeare.

    Every night
    I’ve prayed to be able

    to put all that poetry
    in just six words.

    *

    A little bit of porridge
    every morning

    is better than a night
    without poetry.

    Reply
    • L. L. Barkat says

      February 25, 2016 at 4:59 pm

      These are delightful, Maureen. I like the proverb-like form of the last one especially.

      As for the post quotes, I think my favorite humorous one might be about the porridge. I love how Montgomery slips in some good solid questioning of the religious-belief status quo through the talk of an innocent child.

      Reply
    • Will Willingham says

      February 26, 2016 at 10:24 am

      Love when you do this, Maureen. 🙂

      Every night
      I’ve prayed to be able

      to put all that poetry
      in just six words.

      Reply
  2. Jody Lee Collins says

    February 25, 2016 at 2:24 pm

    LW, I’m working on a post myself for the blog, “The Gospel According to Anne Shirley”; it must be in the air. I first read Anne of Green Gables when I was 12 years old, now I’m re reading it over 50 years later. I can see what I loved about it then and enjoy even more now–the wit and wisdom and pure hilarity at times of LM Montgomery.
    Thanks for sharing these Avonlea bits….(my copy is awaiting me in the ‘to be read’ basket at home).

    Reply
  3. Marilyn Yocum says

    February 27, 2016 at 9:44 am

    I always have the feeling, when I encounter LM Montgomery’s words, that she enjoyed the freedom to have fun while writing. I don’t know why. I’m going to think about that today, and also why it engenders a particular feeling in me. Hmmm…. Enjoyed this (and Maureen’s comment) immensely!

    Reply
    • Marilyn Yocum says

      February 28, 2016 at 8:02 am

      Okay, I gave it a day’s thought and decided the feeling it engendered was………jealousy.

      Reply
    • Will Willingham says

      February 28, 2016 at 12:38 pm

      Interesting response, jealousy. It’s one we always think around here is worth probing a little bit. 🙂 (L.L. even wrote about it: https://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/2014/05/01/write-poem-jealousy-poem-stacks/)

      To have fun while writing. Such a contrast to the tortured image we seem so often to portray. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Dheepa R. Maturi says

    February 20, 2023 at 3:47 pm

    Thank you for your post and list of quotes! Can’t imagine my childhood without LMM!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Cute Comic

😊

The Sadbook Collections

A stick-figure human sure to capture your heart.

Take How to Read a Poem

Get the Introduction, the Billy Collins poem, and Chapter 1

get the sample now

Welcome to Tweetspeak

New to Tweetspeak Poetry? Start here, in The Mischief Café. You're a regular? Check out our June Menu.

Patron Love

❤️

Welcome a little patron love, when you help keep the world poetic.

Your Comments

  • Dheepa R. Maturi on Poet Laura on the Moon
  • L.L. Barkat on Poetry Club Tea Date ✨ The Color of Eyes
  • Beverley on Poetry Club Tea Date ✨ The Color of Eyes
  • L.L. Barkat on Poet Laura on the Moon

How to Write Poetry

Get Every Day Poems

Featured In

We're happy to have been featured in...

The Huffington Post

The Paris Review

The New York Observer

Tumblr Book News

Stay in Touch With Us

Categories

Learn to Write Form Poems

How to Write an Acrostic

How to Write a Ballad

How to Write a Catalog Poem

How to Write a Ghazal

How to Write a Haiku

How to Write an Ode

How to Write a Pantoum

How to Write a Rondeau

How to Write a Sestina

How to Write a Sonnet

How to Write a Villanelle

5 FREE POETRY PROMPTS

Get 5 FREE inbox poetry prompts from the popular book How to Write a Poem

Shakespeare Resources

Poetry Classroom: Sonnet 18

Common Core Picture Poems: Sonnet 73

Sonnet 104 Annotated

Sonnet 116 Annotated

Character Analysis: Romeo and Juliet

Character Analysis: Was Hamlet Sane or Insane?

Why Does Hamlet Wait to Kill the King?

10 Fun Shakespeare Resources

About Shakespeare: Poet and Playwright

Top 10 Shakespeare Sonnets

See all 154 Shakespeare sonnets in our Shakespeare Library!

Explore Work From Black Poets

About Us

  • • A Blessing for Writers
  • • Annual Theme 2022: Perspective
  • • Annual Theme 2021: Generous
  • • Our Story
  • • Meet Our Team
  • • Literary Citizenship
  • • Poet Laura
  • • Poetry for Life: The 5 Vital Approaches
  • • T. S. Poetry Press – All Books
  • • Contact Us

Write With Us

  • • 5 FREE Poetry Prompts-Inbox Delivery
  • • 30 Days to Richer Writing Workshop
  • • Poetry Prompts
  • • Submissions
  • • The Write to Poetry

Read With Us

  • • All Our Books
  • • Book Club
  • • Every Day Poems—Subscribe! ✨
  • • Literacy Extras
  • • Poems to Listen By: Audio Series
  • • Poet-a-Day
  • • Poets and Poems
  • • 50 States Projects
  • • Charlotte Perkins Gilman Poems Library
  • • Edgar Allan Poe Poems Arts & Experience Library
  • • William Blake Poems Arts & Experience Library
  • • William Shakespeare Sonnet Library

Celebrate With Us

  • • Poem on Your Pillow Day
  • • Poetic Earth Month
  • • Poet in a Cupcake Day
  • • Poetry at Work Day
  • • Random Acts of Poetry Day
  • • Take Your Poet to School Week
  • • Take Your Poet to Work Day

Gift Ideas

  • • Every Day Poems
  • • Our Shop
  • • Everybody Loves a Book!

Connect

  • • Donate
  • • Blog Buttons
  • • By Heart
  • • Shop for Tweetspeak Fun Stuff

Copyright © 2023 Tweetspeak Poetry · FAQ, Disclosure & Privacy Policy

We serve poetry with our cookies. Because that's the way it should be.
We serve poetry with your cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you... accept the cookies with a smile.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
update cookie prefs

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT