All those golden autumn days the sky was full of wings. Wings beating low over the blue water of Silver Lake, wings beating high in the blue air far above it . . . bearing them all away to the green fields in the South. Laura Ingalls Wilder More Quotes by Laura Ingalls Wilder More Quotes From Laura Ingalls Wilder The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong. Laura Ingalls Wilder good-life honesty real As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful. They are the things that fill our lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness -- just the pure air to breathe and the strength to breath it; just warmth and shelter and home folks; just plain food that gives us strength; the bright sunshine on a cold day; and a cool breeze when the day is warm. Laura Ingalls Wilder grateful home heart The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies. Laura Ingalls Wilder everyday-things way-to-live lying It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. Laura Ingalls Wilder real simple sweet A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing. Laura Ingalls Wilder laughter humor happiness Home is the nicest word there is. Laura Ingalls Wilder little-house-on-the-prairie prairie home We who live in quiet places have the opportunity to become acquainted with ourselves, to think our own thoughts and live our own lives in a way that is not possible for those keeping up with the crowd. Laura Ingalls Wilder crowds opportunity thinking It is the simple things of life that make living worthwhile, the sweet fundamental things such as love and duty, work and rest, and living close to nature. Laura Ingalls Wilder simple sweet life Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat. Laura Ingalls Wilder sunshine beats air No one has ever achieved anything from the smallest to the greatest unless the dream was dreamed first. Laura Ingalls Wilder dream inspirational firsts Courage and kindness, loyalty, truth, and helpfulness are always the same and always needed. Laura Ingalls Wilder loyalty needed kindness As you read my stories of long ago I hope you will remember that things truly worthwhile and that will give you happiness are the same now as they were then. It is not the things you have that make you happy. It is love and kindness and helping each other and just plain being good. Laura Ingalls Wilder long-ago kindness giving Ma sighed gently and said, "A whole year gone, Charles." But Pa answered, cheerfully: "What's a year amount to? We have all the time there is. Laura Ingalls Wilder gone said years Every job is good if you do your best and work hard. A man who works hard stinks only to the ones that have nothing to do but smell. Laura Ingalls Wilder hard-work jobs men Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I'll remember you all. If you can only remember me with tears, then don't remember me at all. Laura Ingalls Wilder laughter happiness sympathy The stream of passing years is like a river with people being carried along in the current. Some are swept along, protesting, fighting all the way, trying to swim back up the stream, longing for the shores that they have passed, clutching at anything to retard their progress, frightened by the onward rush of the strong current and in danger of being overwhelmed by the waters. Others go with the current freely, trusting themselves to the buoyancy of the water. Laura Ingalls Wilder fighting strong years Remember well, and bear in mind, a constant friend is hard to find. Laura Ingalls Wilder bears mind remember Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. Laura Ingalls Wilder xmas christmas memories Why should we need extra time in which to enjoy ourselves? If we expect to enjoy our life, we will have to learn to be joyful in all of it, not just at stated intervals when we can get time or when we have nothing else to do. Laura Ingalls Wilder extra-time joy happiness Did you ever think how a bit of land shows the character of the owner? Laura Ingalls Wilder garden character thinking