Frances Burnett’s beliefs in spirituality, nature and Christian science played a role in how she viewed life and the ways in which her books were written. She was a firm believer in friendship, happiness, and optimism. Below are some of Frances’s best quotes. Some of these quotes were gotten from her books which include: ‘The Secret Garden, ‘A Little Princess‘ and others. Â
Positive Thinking
If you look the right way, you can see the whole world is a garden.
This quote is gotten from ‘The Secret Garden‘ and is set to repeat the main metaphor of Burnett’s book and give a clearer sign of the garden. Here, Frances Burnett is of the opinion that positive thinking goes a long way in making people see the world in a better light.
Deeds
…it has nothing to do with what you look like or what you have. It has only to do with what you think of and what you do.
This is a quote culled from ‘A Little Princess’ book. According to Frances, a person is judged not by looks or possession, but deeds. Since she was interested in spirituality, the Biblical perspective of the quote can be inferred. An individual will be rewarded based on his/her actions. Thoughts beget actions. That is, out of the abundance of the heart, a person speaks or acts.
The Love of Books
She liked books more than anything else, and was, in fact, always inventing stories of beautiful things and telling them to herself.
This quote is used to describe Sara Crewe in ‘A Little Princess’ book. She is a young girl who likes to read and retell stories to her father who likes to listen. The childhood of Frances Burnett is subtly shown here. Although she dropped out of school at an early age, Frances taught herself how to read.
Magic
“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.”
This quote is made by Colin Craven from ‘The Secret Garden’ book. After he is let into the garden, he stands on his feet and is more confident in himself. He stops thinking of having a short life span and has identified the magic that the garden possesses. He openly talks about his intentions to make great scientific discoveries. He also realizes the importance, yet uncommonness of magic. He thinks it will pave a way for civilization, like the invention of electricity and whatnot.
Enriching the Mind
If you fill your mind with a beautiful thought, there will be no room for an ugly one.
This is gotten from Frances Burnett’s book titled ‘The Land Of The Blue Flower’. Again, Frances aims at stating the great importance of positive thoughts in the life of humans.
Power of Thoughts
Two things cannot be in one place. Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow.
This quote is again made in reference to thoughts. Frances Burnett’s belief in the idea that thoughts reflected outward appearance was profound. If one always thought negative things, such a person is more likely to be pessimistic.
Universal Communication
Perhaps there is a language that is not made of words and everything in the world understands it. Perhaps there is a soul hidden in everything and it can always speak without making a sound to another soul.
This quote is extracted from ‘A Little Princess’. This is made in reference to animals and their ability to understand things. They cannot communicate the way humans do but communicate all the same.
Stories
Everything’s a story. You are a story – I am a story.
This quote is made by Sara Crewe in ‘A Little Princess’. She is ill-treated when her father dies, yet she remains kind and courageous. She still counts herself as a worthy princess and believes she has gone through experiences that brought her to her present position.
The young girl says when one is insulted, silence is the best answer. When you do not exchange words with people who insult you, they know you are stronger than they are because you can hold your rage in.
Vitality
As long as you have a garden, you have a future and as long as you have a future, you are alive.
This quote is made by Frances Hodgson Burnett herself. She talks of writing about a garden and opined that a writer of a garden couldn’t write from outside, but inside it. She talks of how the earth follows her wherever she goes. In Frances’s opinion, remaining alive is what made life worth living.Â
Recovery
Hang in there. It is astonishing how short a time it can take for very wonderful things to happen.
This is another quote from Frances that aims at encouragement. This quote is inspirational and aims at hopeful thoughts. To Frances, recovery is only possible when you think it is.
