…she never had what she wanted till she had given up hoping for,' said Mrs. Meg. - Louisa May Alcott

You have a good many little gifts and virtues, but there is no need of parading them, for conceit spoils the finest genius. There is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long; even if it is, the consciousness of possessing and using it well should satisfy one, and the great charm of all power is modesty.

"It's so dreadful to be poor!" sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress.

…it is so much better to work for others than for one's self alone.