Anne of Avonlea (1987)

Colleen Dewhurst: Marilla Cuthbert

Quotes 

• Anne Shirley : Our friendship, it won't ever be the same now. Why can't he just be sensible instead of acting like a sentimental schoolboy?

  Marilla Cuthbert : Because he loves you.

  Anne Shirley : He loves me? I can't know why.

  Marilla Cuthbert : Because you made Josie Pye and Ruby Gillis and all of those wishy-washy young ladies who waltzed by him look like spineless nothings.

  Anne Shirley : Marilla, he's hardly my idea of a romantic suitor.

  Marilla Cuthbert : Anne, you have tricked something out of that imagination of yours that you call romance. Have you forgotten how he gave up the Avonlea school for you so that you could stay here with me? He picked you up everyday in his carriage so that you could study your courses together. Don't toss it away for some ridiculous ideal that doesn't exist. Hmm? Now, you come downstairs and see if a good cup of tea and some of those plum puffs I made today don't hearten you.

• [Anne is deeply depressed, and Marilla tries to cheer her up by offering her some homemade plum puffs] 

  Anne Shirley : Plum puffs won't minister to a mind diseased in a world that's crumbled into pieces.

  Marilla Cuthbert : Well I'm glad to see that your dented spirits haven't injured your tongue.

• Marilla Cuthbert : You set your heart too much on frivolous things and then crash down into despair when you don't get them.

  Anne Shirley : I know. I can't help flying up on the wings of anticipation. It's as glorious as soaring through a sunset... almost pays for the thud.

  Marilla Cuthbert : Well, maybe it does. But I'd rather walk calmly along and do without flying AND thud.

• Marilla Cuthbert : [about Rachel Lynde's husband Thomas]  It's a wonder he got sick at all without asking her permission.

• [Rachel and Marilla discuss Anne] 

  Rachel Lynde : It's to your credit you changed her as much as you did.

  Marilla Cuthbert : Ooo, she hasn't changed that much... not really. It's US that's changed, Rachel.

• Anne Shirley : Fred is... extremely good.

  Marilla Cuthbert : That is exactly what he should be! Would you want to marry a wicked man?

  Anne Shirley : Well, I wouldn't marry anyone who was really wicked, but I think I'd like it if he could be wicked and wouldn't.

  Marilla Cuthbert : You'll have better sense some day, I hope.

• Marilla Cuthbert : Anne Shirley, I wouldn't trade you for a dozen boys.

• Anne Shirley : If Gil were to... not knowing how I really care.

  Marilla Cuthbert : Oh, there, there.

  Anne Shirley : What would I do without him?

  Marilla Cuthbert : We can't change what God wills.

• Anne Shirley : [holding the package Marilla has just handed her]  My book! It's the book I published.

  Marilla Cuthbert : Well, don't sit there shaking like a leaf open it.

• Marilla Cuthbert : [Anne never told Marilla about the book she published]  Oh, you're a great one for secrets.

• Marilla Cuthbert : Every baby is the sweetest and the best.

• Rachel Lynde : [about Anne not being married at her age]  It's the overparticular ones that get left behind.

  Marilla Cuthbert : And it's the over-opinionated ones that end up unhappy and meaner than second skimmings.