Heidi quotes
The lines readers remember from Heidi, by Johanna Spyri.
32 quotes · About the book
Standout lines
The poor child felt like a little bird that is placed in a glittering cage for the first time.
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What was her disappointment when she found that the windows were too high for her to see anything except the walls and windows opposite. Trying to open them, she turned from one to the other, but in vain.
The poor child felt like a little bird that is placed in a glittering cage for the first time.
At last she had to resign herself, and sat down on a low stool, thinking of the melting snow on the slopes and the first flowers of spring that she had hailed with such delight.
Nobody had time to yawn that morning.
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Heidi understood, and gave a promise to sit quietly during her lessons from that time on. After the servants had straightened the room, it was late, and there was no more time for studies.
Nobody had time to yawn that morning.
In the afternoon, while Clara was resting, Heidi was left to herself. She planted herself in the hall and waited for the butler to come upstairs with the silver things. When he reached the head of the stairs, she said to him:
Heidi never knew if it was summer or winter, for the walls opposite never changed.
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Thus the time passed by.
Heidi never knew if it was summer or winter, for the walls opposite never changed.
They drove out very seldom, for Clara was only able to go a short distance. They never saw anything else than streets, houses and busy people; no grass, no fir-trees and no mountains. Heidi struggled constantly against her sorrow, but in vain.
It won’t hurt to cry; you’ll go to sleep afterward, and when you wake up everything will come right.
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The doctor rose, and soothing her, said: “
It won’t hurt to cry; you’ll go to sleep afterward, and when you wake up everything will come right.
” Then he left the room.
The most beautiful thing of all, though, is to be able to shake hands again with an old friend, as in days gone by; it is a great comfort to find again, what we have treasured.
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Great was the delight caused by this news, and what with all the questions and plans that followed, the grandfather himself forgot how late it was. This happy day, which had united them all, caused the old woman to say at parting: “
The most beautiful thing of all, though, is to be able to shake hands again with an old friend, as in days gone by; it is a great comfort to find again, what we have treasured.
I hope you’ll come soon again, uncle. I am counting on the child for tomorrow.”
If you ever sit down among them, you will feel as if you could never get up any more, it is so beautiful.
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“Clara, this is really nothing in comparison with the many flowers in the pasture. You must come up once and see them. There are so many that the ground seems golden with them.
If you ever sit down among them, you will feel as if you could never get up any more, it is so beautiful.
”
All quotes
Jump to a chapter
- II: With the Grandfather
- III: On the Pasture
- IV: In the Grandmother’s Hut
- V: Two Visitors
- VII: Miss Rottenmeier Has an Uncomfortable Day
- VIII: Great Disturbances in the Sesemann House
- IX: The Master of the House Hears of Strange Doings
- X: A Grandmama
- XI: Heidi Gains in Some Respects and Loses in Others
- XII: The Sesemann House Is Haunted
- XIII: Up the Alp on a Summer Evening
- XIV: On Sunday When the Church Bells Ring
- XVI: A Guest on the Alp
- XVII: Retaliation
- XIX: Winter Still Continues
- XX: News from Distant Friends
- XXI: Of Further Events on the Alp
- XXII: Something Unexpected Happens
- XXIII: Parting to Meet Again
II: With the Grandfather
I want to go about like the light-footed goats!
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“
I want to go about like the light-footed goats!
”
III: On the Pasture
“They are made to bloom in the sun and not to be shut up in an apron,” said the grandfather.
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“What is the matter with them, grandfather? They looked so different!” Heidi exclaimed in her fright.
“They are made to bloom in the sun and not to be shut up in an apron,” said the grandfather.
“Then I shall never pick them any more! Please, grandfather, tell me why the eagle screeches so loudly,” asked Heidi.
“Saying good night to the mountains, he throws his most beautiful rays to them, that they may not forget him till the morning.”
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“The sun does it,” he exclaimed.
“Saying good night to the mountains, he throws his most beautiful rays to them, that they may not forget him till the morning.”
Heidi was so much pleased with this explanation, that she could hardly wait to see the sun’s good night greetings repeated. It was time now to go to bed, and Heidi slept soundly all night.
IV: In the Grandmother’s Hut
Nobody can ever show me the light again.
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“No, no, not even then.
Nobody can ever show me the light again.
”
People who cannot see love to listen to friendly words.
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it wrung her heart to see her terrible distress. It was awfully hard for Heidi to stop crying when she had once begun, for she cried so seldom. The grandmother said: “Heidi, let me tell you something.
People who cannot see love to listen to friendly words.
Sit down beside me and tell me all about yourself. Talk to me about your grandfather, for it has been long since I have heard anything about him. I used to know him very well.”
V: Two Visitors
I want her to be free and happy as a bird!
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“
I want her to be free and happy as a bird!
”
VII: Miss Rottenmeier Has an Uncomfortable Day
The poor child felt like a little bird that is placed in a glittering cage for the first time.
Show the passage
What was her disappointment when she found that the windows were too high for her to see anything except the walls and windows opposite. Trying to open them, she turned from one to the other, but in vain.
The poor child felt like a little bird that is placed in a glittering cage for the first time.
At last she had to resign herself, and sat down on a low stool, thinking of the melting snow on the slopes and the first flowers of spring that she had hailed with such delight.
Nobody had time to yawn that morning.
Show the passage
Heidi understood, and gave a promise to sit quietly during her lessons from that time on. After the servants had straightened the room, it was late, and there was no more time for studies.
Nobody had time to yawn that morning.
In the afternoon, while Clara was resting, Heidi was left to herself. She planted herself in the hall and waited for the butler to come upstairs with the silver things. When he reached the head of the stairs, she said to him:
Miss Rottenmeier looks like a loaded cannon.
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“Come up quickly, little Miss,” he urged. “They are all waiting for you in the dining-room.
Miss Rottenmeier looks like a loaded cannon.
How could you run away like that?”
VIII: Great Disturbances in the Sesemann House
How the eagle would screech if he saw all the people here in Frankfurt!
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“Oh, I want to go home. What will poor Snowhopper do without me? Grandmother is waiting for me every day. Poor Thistlefinch gets blows if Peter gets no cheese, and I must see the sun again when he says good night to the mountains.
How the eagle would screech if he saw all the people here in Frankfurt!
”
IX: The Master of the House Hears of Strange Doings
I think that even Swiss children are made to touch the earth, otherwise they would have to have wings.
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“
I think that even Swiss children are made to touch the earth, otherwise they would have to have wings.
”
X: A Grandmama
If somebody’s name is Heidi, I call her so.
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The grandmama, with her kind and loving way, immediately befriended the child and made her feel as if she had known her always. To the housekeeper’s great mortification, she called the child Heidi, remarking to Miss Rottenmeier: “
If somebody’s name is Heidi, I call her so.
”
You have not learnt to read because you have believed what Peter said.
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“I am going to tell you something, Heidi,” said the kind lady now. “
You have not learnt to read because you have believed what Peter said.
You shall believe me now, and I prophesy that you will learn it in a very short time, as a great many other children do that are like you and not like Peter. When you can read, I am going to give you this book.
XI: Heidi Gains in Some Respects and Loses in Others
Heidi never knew if it was summer or winter, for the walls opposite never changed.
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Thus the time passed by.
Heidi never knew if it was summer or winter, for the walls opposite never changed.
They drove out very seldom, for Clara was only able to go a short distance. They never saw anything else than streets, houses and busy people; no grass, no fir-trees and no mountains. Heidi struggled constantly against her sorrow, but in vain.
XII: The Sesemann House Is Haunted
It won’t hurt to cry; you’ll go to sleep afterward, and when you wake up everything will come right.
Show the passage
The doctor rose, and soothing her, said: “
It won’t hurt to cry; you’ll go to sleep afterward, and when you wake up everything will come right.
” Then he left the room.
XIII: Up the Alp on a Summer Evening
Because I would rather be with my grandfather on the Alp than anywhere on earth.
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“
Because I would rather be with my grandfather on the Alp than anywhere on earth.
”
XIV: On Sunday When the Church Bells Ring
You see, Heidi, I am more happy than I deserve; to be at peace with God and men makes one’s heart feel light.
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“Do you think so, child?” he said with a smile. “
You see, Heidi, I am more happy than I deserve; to be at peace with God and men makes one’s heart feel light.
God has been good to me, to send you back.”
The most beautiful thing of all, though, is to be able to shake hands again with an old friend, as in days gone by; it is a great comfort to find again, what we have treasured.
Show the passage
Great was the delight caused by this news, and what with all the questions and plans that followed, the grandfather himself forgot how late it was. This happy day, which had united them all, caused the old woman to say at parting: “
The most beautiful thing of all, though, is to be able to shake hands again with an old friend, as in days gone by; it is a great comfort to find again, what we have treasured.
I hope you’ll come soon again, uncle. I am counting on the child for tomorrow.”
XVI: A Guest on the Alp
Why doesn’t the army go forward? Is it the field-marshal’s fault, or the fault of the troop?
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Then the grandfather’s strong voice was heard: “
Why doesn’t the army go forward? Is it the field-marshal’s fault, or the fault of the troop?
”
It is always Sunday with us now; Heidi has not been away in vain.
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For instance, she would make her bed every morning, and run about the hut, tidying and dusting. With an old rag she would rub the chairs and table till they all shone, and the grandfather would exclaim: “
It is always Sunday with us now; Heidi has not been away in vain.
”
XVII: Retaliation
One must wait patiently, for God knows how to turn the saddest things to something happy in the end.
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After meditating a moment, Heidi replied: “
One must wait patiently, for God knows how to turn the saddest things to something happy in the end.
God will show us what He has meant to do for us. But He will only do so if we pray to Him patiently.”
XIX: Winter Still Continues
So it happened sometimes that there were hardly any nouns left in the hymns that Peter read.
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And no wonder! For Peter would often leave out long and difficult words—what did three or four words matter!
So it happened sometimes that there were hardly any nouns left in the hymns that Peter read.
XX: News from Distant Friends
It comes more from care than study.
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The uncle smiled faintly, while he replied: “
It comes more from care than study.
”
If you ever sit down among them, you will feel as if you could never get up any more, it is so beautiful.
Show the passage
“Clara, this is really nothing in comparison with the many flowers in the pasture. You must come up once and see them. There are so many that the ground seems golden with them.
If you ever sit down among them, you will feel as if you could never get up any more, it is so beautiful.
”
Don’t stop, our mountain wind helps along where the cooking is faulty!
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“
Don’t stop, our mountain wind helps along where the cooking is faulty!
” contentedly said the old man.
Because they know that God in heaven looks after us mortals and we never need to fear. See, they twinkle and show us how to be merry, too.
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“
Because they know that God in heaven looks after us mortals and we never need to fear. See, they twinkle and show us how to be merry, too.
But Clara, we must not forget to pray to God and ask Him to think of us and keep us safe.”
XXI: Of Further Events on the Alp
Up on the Alp with grandfather is the loveliest spot in all the world.
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“Now you can see that everything is as beautiful as I told you,” Heidi replied triumphantly. “
Up on the Alp with grandfather is the loveliest spot in all the world.
”
All my life I have only eaten because I had to. Everything always tasted to me like cod-liver oil, and I have often wished that I should never have to eat. And now I am so hungry!
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“Oh, Heidi, I feel as if I could not wait for my milk. Isn’t it funny?
All my life I have only eaten because I had to. Everything always tasted to me like cod-liver oil, and I have often wished that I should never have to eat. And now I am so hungry!
”
XXII: Something Unexpected Happens
But Peter had forgotten that a bad deed always brings a punishment.
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Sometimes it was thrown high up into the air, to crash down again the next moment harder than ever. Pieces were falling from it right and left, and were blown about. Now the stranger would have to travel home and Heidi would be his again!
But Peter had forgotten that a bad deed always brings a punishment.
Heidi just now came out of the hut. The grandfather, with Clara, followed. Heidi at first stood still, and then, running right and left, she returned to the old man.
Didn’t you think today, Clara, that it is fortunate God does not always give us what we pray for fervently, because He knows of something better?
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When Clara and Heidi were lying in their beds that night, glancing up at the shining stars, Heidi remarked: “
Didn’t you think today, Clara, that it is fortunate God does not always give us what we pray for fervently, because He knows of something better?
”
XXIII: Parting to Meet Again
God can turn a misdeed to the good of the injured person and bring trouble on the offender.
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She would probably never have tried to walk, if her chair had been there. If she should stay here, she might even go up to the pasture every single day. Do you see, Peter?
God can turn a misdeed to the good of the injured person and bring trouble on the offender.
Have you understood me, Peter? Remember the little watchman when you long to do a wicked deed again. Will you do that?”
Always confess what is wrong, then it can be settled.
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Reflecting a while, the grandmama understood and said: “That is right.
Always confess what is wrong, then it can be settled.
And now, what would you like to have?”
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