Frances Hodgson Burnett: Thing

“Perhaps to be able to learn things quickly isn't everything. To be kind is worth a great deal to other people… Lots of clever people have done harm and have been wicked.”

“I am sure there is Magic in everything, only we have not sense enough to get hold of it and make it do things for us”

“Two worst things as can happen to a child is never to have his own way - or always to have it.”

“Somehow, something always happens just before things get to the very worst. It is as if Magic did it. If I could only just remember that always. The worse thing never quite comes.”

“Hang in there. It is astonishing how short a time it can take for very wonderful things to happen.”

“There's naught as nice as th' smell o' good clean earth, except th' smell o' fresh growin' things when th' rain falls on 'em.”

“But I suppose there might be good in things, even if we don't see it.”

“Never thee stop believin' in th' Big Good Thing an' knowin' th' world's full of it - and call it what tha' likes. Tha' wert singin' to it when I come into t' garden.”

“Things happen to people by accident.”

“If nature has made you a giver, your hands are born open, and so is your heart. And though there may be times when your hands are empty, your heart is always full, and you can give things out of that.”