Our favourite Anne Shirley quotes

Anne Shirley has been a best friend, feminist heroine and literary life coach for women worldwide, including many of us in the Virago team. Virago Modern Classics are so proud to publish beautiful new editions of Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island on 2 March, with the rest of the series following in May. And to celebrate, what better way than share our favourite Anne-ecdotes, unique pearls of wisdom from L. M. Montgomery of Anne’s irrepressible optimistic view of the world.

Feminist Quotes

Anne being ahead of her time in perfectly describing the complex female psyche:

“There’s such a lot of different Annes in me. 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 so interesting.” 

Anne of Green Gables

Anne inspiring little girls everywhere to work hard and dream big:

“Oh, it’s delightful to have ambitions. I’m so glad I have such a lot. And there never seems to be any end to them–that’s the best of it. Just as soon as you attain to one ambition you see another one glittering higher up still. It does make life so interesting.” Anne of Green Gables

Anne being the original Guilty Feminist, admitting defeat as a fashion victim:

“Anne felt that life was really not worth living without puffed sleeve”’ Anne of Green Gables

…and a quote from Matthew Cuthbert (sob!) on his love and support of Anne smashing the patriarchy:

“Well now, I’d rather have you than a dozen boys, Anne,’ said Matthew patting her hand. ‘Just mind you that — rather than a dozen boys. Well now, I guess it wasn’t a boy that took the Avery scholarship, was it? It was a girl — my girl — my girl that I’m proud of.” Anne of Green Gables

The beauty of the world

Despite, as an orphan, having a rough start in life, Anne always takes comfort in the beauty of the world around her. Whenever life seems a difficult, she takes inspiration from nature:

“Anne reveled in the world of colour about her.

“Oh, Marilla,” she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn’t it? Look at these maple branches. Don’t they give you a thrill–several thrills?” 

Anne of Green Gables 

Anne on her ambitions:

“I’d like to add some beauty to life,” said Anne dreamily. “I don’t exactly want to make people know more. . .though I know that is the noblest ambition. . .but I’d love to make them have a pleasanter time because of me. . .to have some little joy or happy thought that would never have existed if I hadn’t been born.” Anne of Avonlea

Anne on appreciating the simple pleasures in life: 

“After all,” Anne had said to Marilla once, “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 of Avonlea

Anne on Love

Anne grows up to realise perhaps her childish ideas about romance aren’t what love is about at all, and her description of falling for Gilbert is in our opinion, one of the best there is:

“For a moment Anne’s heart fluttered queerly and for the first time her eyes faltered under Gilbert’s gaze and a rosy flush stained the paleness of her face. It was as if a veil that had hung before her inner consciousness had been lifted, giving to her view a revelation of unsuspected feelings and realities. Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one’s life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; perhaps it crept to one’s side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music, perhaps. . . perhaps. . .love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath. ” Anne of Avonlea

On knowing herself

Throughout the series, Anne undergoes many life lessons. She shows her greatest wisdom through hard-earned self-awareness:

“I do know my own mind,’ protested Anne. ‘The trouble is, my mind changes and then I have to get acquainted with it all over again.” Anne of the Island 

Anne’s definition of wisdom:

“When you’ve learned to laugh at the things that should be laughed at, and not to laugh at those that shouldn’t, you’ve got wisdom and understanding.” Anne of the Island 

Anne often perfectly describes what it is to feel a little sadness:

“Besides, I’ve been feeling a little blue — just a pale, elusive azure. It isn’t serious enough for anything darker.” Anne of the Island 

Anne on speaking her mind:

“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?” Anne of Green Gables

L. M. Montgomery was born in 1874 on Prince Edward Island, Canada, where she spent her childhood living with her grandparents in an old farmhouse. A prolific writer, she published many short stories, poems and novels, many of which were inspired by the years she spent on the beautiful Prince Edward Island. Anne of Green Gables and its sequels have always been amongst the most popular of children’s classics. Montgomery died in Toronto in 1942 and was buried on her beloved island.

Anne, a new Netflix adaptation of the Anne of Green Gables series, written by Breaking Bad screenwriter Moira Walley-Beckett, will air in 12th May 2017.

Quotes are taken from Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island published by Virago Modern Classics on 2 March 2017, ￡6.99 each.