Copyright Notice: It’s easy to see when our selected quotes have been copied and pasted, as you’re also copying our format, mistakes, and movie scene descriptions. If you decide to copy from us please be kind and either link back, or refer back to our site. Please check out our copyright policies here. Thanks!
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Timothée Chalamet, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, James Norton, Louis Garrel, Bob Odenkirk, Chris Cooper, Abby Quinn, Meryl Streep
OUR RATING: ★★★★☆
Story:
Period drama written and directed by Greta Gerwig. Set in 1860s New England, in the aftermath of the American Civil War, Little Women (2019) follows the lives of four sisters, Jo (Saoirse Ronan), Meg (Emma Watson), Amy (Florence Pugh), and Beth (Eliza Scanlen) as they come of age. Though all very different from each other, the March sisters stand by each other through difficult and changing times.
Our Favorite Quotes:
'There are some natures too noble to curb, and too lofty to bend.' - Marmee March (Little Women) Click To Tweet 'Just because my dreams are different than yours, it doesn't mean they're unimportant.' - Meg March (Little Women) Click To Tweet
Best Quotes
Mr. Dashwood: [in the present, referring to her stories published] We’ll take this.
Jo March: Oh, you will?
Mr. Dashwood: With alterations. It’s too long.
Jo March: But, you’ve cut… I took care to have a few of my sinners repent.
Mr. Dashwood: The country just went through a war. People want to be amused, not preached at. Morals don’t sell nowadays.
Jo March: [referring to her stories that she’s writing under a different name] Should I tell my friend that you’ll take another, if she had one better than this?
Mr. Dashwood: We’ll look at it. Tell her to make it short and spicy. And if the main character is a girl, make sure she’s married by the end. Or dead, either way.
Jo March: Excuse me?
Mr. Dashwood: What name would she like put to the story?
Jo March: Oh. Yes. None at all, if you please.
Mr. Dashwood: Just as she likes, of course.
Friedrich Bhaer: Always working.
Jo March: Money is the end and aim of my mercenary existence.
Friedrich Bhaer: No one gets ink stains like yours just out of a desire for money.
Jo March: Well, my sister Amy is in Paris, and until she marries someone obscenely wealthy, it’s up to me to keep the family afloat. Goodbye.
Jo March: [in the past, after Jo meets Laurie at a party] I can’t get over my disappointment in being a girl.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: Jo, would you like to dance with me?
Jo March: I can’t, because…
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: Because of what?
Jo March: You won’t tell?
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: Never.
Jo March: I scorched my dress, see? There. And Meg told me to keep still, so no one would see it. You can laugh if you want to. It’s funny, I know.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: I have an idea of how we can manage.
Jo March: [in the present, referring to her stories] Those are just stories, of course. But I’m working on a novel.
Friedrich Bhaer: And your novel, it will be like this?
Jo March: Yes. So far, anyway.
Friedrich Bhaer: With plots like this? Duels and killing?
Jo March: It sells, so.
Friedrich Bhaer: [referring to Jo’s stories] You know, I don’t like them. Honestly, I mean, I think that they’re not good.
Jo March: [looks visibly upset] But they’re published in the papers, and people have always said that I’m talented.
Friedrich Bhaer: Oh, I think you’re talented, which is why I’m being so blunt.
Jo March: Well, I can’t afford to starve on praise.
Friedrich Bhaer: Are you upset?
Jo March: Of course I’m upset. You just told me you didn’t like my work.
Friedrich Bhaer: I thought you wanted honesty.
Jo March: Yes, I do!
Friedrich Bhaer: Has no one ever talked to you like this before?
Jo March: Yes, I’ve been rejected plenty of times.
Friedrich Bhaer: Do you have anyone to take you seriously, Jo, to talk about your work?
Jo March: And who made you High Priest of what’s good and what’s bad, huh?
Friedrich Bhaer: No one, and I’m not.
Jo March: Well, then why are you acting like it?
Friedrich Bhaer: Jo, your reaction indicates that you must think there is some truth…
Jo March: My reaction indicates that you are a pompous blowhard!
Amy March: [in the present, after she finds Laurie drunk at the party] Do you want to know what I honestly think of you?
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: What do you honestly think of me?
Amy March: I despise you.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: Why do you despise me?
Amy March: Because with every chance of being good, happy and useful, you are lazy, fault,y and miserable.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: Ooh, this is interesting.
Amy March: Yes, well, selfish people do like to talk about themselves.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: Am I selfish?
Amy March: Yes, very selfish. With your money, talent, beauty, and health.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: Oh, you think I’m beautiful?
Amy March: Oh, yes, you like that, you old vanity. With all these good things to enjoy, you can find nothing to do but dawdle.
Amy March: [as a drunk Laurie grabs her hand at the party] Aren’t you ashamed of a hand like that?
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: No, I’m not.
Amy March: Looks like it’s never done a day of work in its life, and that ring is ridiculous.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: Jo gave me this ring.
Amy March: I feel sorry for you, I really do. I just wish you’d bear it better.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: You don’t have to feel sorry for me, Amy. You’ll feel the same way one day.
Amy March: No, I’d be respected if I couldn’t be loved.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: What have you done lately, oh, great “artiste”? Perhaps, you’re fantasizing about spending Fred Vaughn’s fortune? Fred Vaughn, ladies and gentlemen!
Jo March: [referring to writing] If you know so much about it, then why don’t you do it yourself?
Friedrich Bhaer: Because I’m not a writer. I don’t have the gifts you have.
Jo March: No, you don’t! And you will always be a critic, and never an author. And the world will forget that you’ve ever even lived.
Friedrich Bhaer: I’m sure they will.
Jo March: No one will forget Jo March.
Friedrich Bhaer: I can believe it.
Jo March: Listen, we are not friends. You are not my friend. And I don’t want your opinion, because I don’t like you very much. So, just don’t talk to me anymore, thank you.
Meg March: [in the past, the sisters are together during Christmas] It’s so dreadful being poor.
Amy March: How come some girls get to have lots of pretty things, and others have nothing at all?
Beth March: At least we have father and mother, and each other.
Jo March: We haven’t got father. And we won’t have him for as long as this war drags on.
Amy March: I have lots of wishes, but my favorite one is to be an artist in Paris, and do fine pictures, and to be the best painter in the world.
Beth March: That’s what you want too, isn’t it, Jo, to be a famous writer?
Jo March: Yes. But it sounds so crass when she says it.
Amy March: Why be ashamed of what you want?
Jo March: I’m not!
Beth March: My wish is to have us all to be together with father and mother in this house. That’s what I want.
Amy March: Beth is perfect.
Jo March: What about your music, Queen Bess, huh?
Beth March: I only do that for us. I don’t need anyone else to hear it.
Amy March: You must not limit yourself.
Marmee March: [in the past, reading a letter from their father to the girls] “Give them all my dear love and a kiss. Tell them I think of them by day, pray for them by night, and find my best comforts in their affection at all times. A year seems a very long time to wait before I see them, but remind them that while we wait we may all work, so these hard days need not be wasted. I know that they will be loving children to you, do their duty faithfully, fight their enemies bravely, and conquer themselves so beautifully. And when I come back to them, I may be fonder and prouder than ever of my little women.”
Aunt March: [in the past] You mind yourself, dearie. Some day you’ll need me, and you’ll wish you had behaved better.
Jo March: Thank you, Aunt March, for your employment, and your many kindnesses, but I intend to make my own way in the world.
Aunt March: No one makes their own way, not really, least of all a woman. You’ll need to marry well.
Jo March: But you are not married, Aunt March.
Aunt March: No, that’s because I’m rich. And I made sure to keep all of my money, unlike your Father.
Jo March: So, the only way to be an unmarried woman is to be rich?
Aunt March: Yes.
Jo March: But there are precious few ways for women to make money.
Aunt March: That’s not true. You could run a cat house, or go on the stage. Practically the same thing. Other than that, you’re right. Precious few ways for women. That’s why you should heed me.
Jo March: So I can get married?
Aunt March: No, so you can live a better life than your poor mother has.
Jo March: But Marmee loves her life.
Aunt March: You don’t know what she loves. Your father cared more about educating freedmen’s children than he did about caring for his own family.
Jo March: Yes, but he was right.
Aunt March: Well, it’s possible to be right and foolish.
Jo March: Well, I don’t think so.
Aunt March: Well, you’re not paid to think.
Marmee March: [in the past, after Laurie invites Amy to his home] My girls have a way of getting into mischief.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: So do I.
Marmee March: Well, then you’ll run over and we’ll take care of you.
Jo March: [in the present, returns home due Beth being ill again] When’s Amy coming home?
Marmee March: We didn’t want to worry her.
Jo March: Does she not know?
Meg March: Beth insisted we not tell her because she didn’t want to ruin Amy’s trip.
Jo March: Amy has always had a talent for getting out of the hard parts of life.
Marmee March: Jo, don’t be angry with your sister.
Amy March: [in the past, after she burns Jo’s writings] I burnt your book! I told you I’d make you pay, and I did!
Amy March: [later as Jo is sobbing from the loss of her writings] I’m sorry, Jo.
Marmee March: Amy.
Amy March: It’s just that the only thing you care about is your writing. And it’s not as if I could’ve hurt you by ruining one of your dresses. And I really did want to hurt you. I am the most sorry for it now. I’m so sorry.
Marmee March: Jo, don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Forgive her. Help each other. And you begin again tomorrow.
Jo March: She doesn’t deserve my forgiveness. And I will hate her! I will hate her forever!
Jo March: [in the past, expressing her guilt over what happened with Amy] What is wrong with me? I’ve made so many resolutions, and written sad notes, and I’ve cried over my sins, but it just doesn’t seem to help. When I get in a passion I get so savage, I could hurt anyone, and I’d enjoy it.
Marmee March: You remind me of myself.
Jo March: But you’re never angry
Marmee March: I’m angry nearly every day of my life.
Jo March: You are?
Marmee March: I’m not patient by nature. But with nearly forty years of effort, I’m learning to not let it get the better of me.
Jo March: Well, I’ll do the same then.
Marmee March: I hope you’ll do a great deal better than me. There are some natures too noble to curb, and too lofty to bend.
Marmee March: [in the past, gives some jewelry to Meg to wear to the debutante ball] I’ve never understood saving jewelry until marriage. You should have something that’s just yours. Pretty things should be enjoyed.
John Brooke: [referring to Meg going to the debutante ball on her own] Do you think this is a good idea, her going away like this?
Marmee March: Girls have to go into the world and make up their own minds about things.
Meg March: [at the debutante ball] Do you like how I look?
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: No, I don’t.
Meg March: Why not?
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: I don’t like fuss and feathers.
Meg March: You are the rudest boy I ever saw.
Meg March: [in the present, as she and John are struggling financially] I try to be contented, but it is hard. I’m tired of being poor.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: [in the present, visits Amy in Paris] Hello, Amy.
Amy March: I don’t want to see you.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: Amy, don’t be mad. I’m sorry for how I behaved.
Amy March: Have you been drinking again?
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: Why are you being so hard on me? It’s 4:00 PM.
Amy March: Well, someone has to do it.
Amy March: [referring to her painting] I’m a failure. Jo is in New York, being a writer, and I am a failure.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: That’s quite a statement to make at twenty.
Amy March: Well, Rome took all the vanity out of me. And Paris made me realize I’d never be a genius. So, I’m giving up all my foolish artistic hopes.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: Why should you give up, Amy? You have so much talent.
Amy March: Talent isn’t genius. And no amount of energy can make it so. I want to be great, or nothing. And I will not be a some common-place dauber, and I don’t intend to try anymore.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: Now that you’ve given up all your foolish artistic hopes, what are you going to do with your life?
Amy March: Polish up on my other talents and become an ornament to society.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: That’s where Fred Vaughn comes in, I suppose.
Amy March: Don’t make fun.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: I only said his name. You are not engaged, I hope?
Amy March: No.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: But you will be, if he goes down properly on one knee?
Amy March: Most likely, yes. He is rich. Richer than you, even.
Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence: I understand queens of society can’t get on without money. Although it does sound odd from the mouth of one of your mother’s girls.
'Talent isn't genius. And no amount of energy can make it so.' - Amy March (Little Women) Click To Tweet
Trailer: