Anne Frank Quotations

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

Whoever is happy will make others happy too.

Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be.

Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!

It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.

Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction.

Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands.

I soothe my conscience now with the thought that it is better for hard words to be on paper than that Mummy should carry them in her heart.

I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains.

The final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands

We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.

If I read a book that impresses me, I have to take myself firmly by the hand, before I mix with other people; otherwise they would think my mind rather queer.

I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.

Who would ever think that so much went on in the soul of a young girl?

In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death. I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness, I hear the ever approaching thunder, which will destroy us too, I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again.

I simply can't build my hopes on a foundation of confusion, misery and death... I think... peace and tranquillity will return again.

I must uphold my ideals, for perhaps the time will come when I shall be able to carry them out.

How true Daddy's words were when he said: all children must look after their own upbringing. Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands.

No one has ever become poor by giving.

And finally I twist my heart round again, so that the bad is on the outside and the good is on the inside, and keep on trying to find a way of becoming what I would so like to be, and could be, if there weren't any other people living in the world.

Boys will be boys. And even that wouldn't matter if only we could prevent girls from being girls.

Mrs. Van Daan's grizzling is absolutely unbearable; now she can't any longer drive us crazy over the invasion, she nags us the whole day long about the bad weather. It really would be nice to dump her in a bucket of cold water and put her up in the loft.

If I read a book that impresses me, I have to take myself firmly in hand before I mix with other people; otherwise they would think my mind rather queer.

I don't think of all the misery, but of all the beauty that still remains

Our opening ceremony this year is really exciting.

the conversion of Anne Frank into usable goods.

I do my best to please everybody, far more than they'd ever guess. I try to laugh it all off, because I don't want to let them see my trouble.

Outside, you don't hear a single bird, and a deathly, oppressive silence hangs over the house and clings to me as if it were going to drag me into the deepest regions of the underworld.... I wander from room to room, climb up and down the stairs and feel like a songbird whose wings have been ripped off and who keeps hurling itself against the bars of its dark cage.

Sometimes I think God is trying to test me, both now and in the future. I'll have to become a good person on my own, without anyone to serve as a model or advise me, but it'll make me stronger in the end.

Sometimes I'm so deeply buried under self-reproaches that I long for a word of comfort to help me dig myself out again.

I love you, with a love so great that it simply couldn't keep growing inside my heart, but had to leap out and reveal itself in all its magnitude.

it seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl.

I want to go on living even after death!

I hid myself within myself ... and quietly wrote down all my joys, sorrows and contempt in my diary.

As long as you can look fearlessly at the sky, you'll know that your pure within and will find happiness once more.

Our blessed radio. It gives us eyes and ears out into the world. We listen to the German station only for good music. And we listen to the BBC for hope.

God never deserted our people. Right through the ages there were Jews. Through the ages they suffered, but it also made us strong.

How wonderful it is that we can start doing good at this very moment.

No one ever became poor from giving.

I can recapture everything when I write, my thoughts, my ideals and my fantasies.

Go outsideamidst the simple beauty of natureand know that as long as places like this exist, there will be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be.

Then I fall asleep with a stupid feeling of wishing to be different from what I am or from what I want to be; perhaps to behave differently from the way I want to behave or do behave.

One must apply one's reason to everything here, learning to obey, to shut up, to help, to be good, to give in, and I don't know what else. I'm afraid I shall use up all my brains too quickly, and I haven't got so very many. Then I shall not have any left for when the war is over.

Bolkenstein, a Minister, was speaking on the Dutch programme from London, and he said that they ought to make a collection of diaries and letters after the war. Of course, they all made a rush at my diary immediately. Just imagine how interesting it would be if I were to publish a romance of the "Secret Annexe." The title alone would be enough to make people think it was a detective story.

But I won't bore you any longer on the subject of old men. It won't make things any better and all my plans of revenge (such as disconnecting the lamp, shutting the door, hiding his clothes) must be abandoned in order to keep the peace. Oh, I'm becoming so sensible! ...

Yes, there is no doubt that paper is patient and as I don't intend to show this cardboard-covered notebook, bearing the proud name of "diary," to anyone, unless I find a real friend, boy or girl, probably nobody cares. And now I come to the root of the matter, the reason for my starting a diary: it is that I have no such real friend.

They mustn't know my despair, I can't let them see the wounds which they have caused, I couldn't bear their sympathy and their kind-hearted jokes, it would only make me want to scream all the more. If I talk, everyone thinks I'm showing off; when I'm silent they think I'm ridiculous; rude if I answer, sly if I get a good idea, lazy if I'm tired, selfish if I eat a mouthful more than I should, stupid, cowardly, crafty, etc. etc.

I'm sentimental--I know. I'm desperate and silly--I know that too. Oh, help me!

I want to write, but more than that, I want to bring out all kinds of things that lie buried deep in my heart.

Up till now I always thought bickering was just something children did and they outgrew it. Of course, there's sometimes a reason to have a 'real' quarrel, but the verbal exchanges that take place here are just plain bickering. I should be used to the fact that these squabbles are daily occurrences, but I'm not and never will be as long as I'm the subject of nearly every discussion. (They refer to these as 'discussions instead of 'quarrels', but Germans don't know the difference!)

You can get around to meaningful conversations more quickly in the dark than with the sun tickling your face.

I believe that in the course of the next century the notion that it's a woman's duty to have children will change and make way for the respect and admiration of all women, who bear their burdens without complaint or a lot of pompous words!

Once again St. Nicholas Day Has even come to our hideaway; It won't be quite as fun, I fear, As the happy day we had last year. Then we were hopeful, no reason to doubt That optimism would win the bout, And by the time this year came round, We'd all be free, and safe and sound. Still, let's not forget it's St. Nicholas Day, Though we've nothing left to give away. We'll have to find something else to do: So everyone please look in their shoe!

You must work and should not be lazy if you want to be happy.

This is a photo as I would wish myself to look all the time. Then I would maybe have a chance to come to Hollywood. (10, October, 1942; Handwritten inscription on a photograph)

I never utter my real feelings about anything. My lighter, superficial side will always be too quick for the deeper side of me, and that's why it always wins.

Older people have formed their opinions about everything, and don't waver before they act. It's twice as hard for us young ones to hold our ground, and maintain our opinions, in a time when all ideals are being shattered and destroyed, when people are showing their worst side, and do not know whether to believe in truth and right and God.

I can't help telling you that I've begin to feel deserted.

I don't believe the war is simply the work of politicians and capitalists. Oh no, the common man is every bit as guilty; otherwise, people and nations would have rebelled long ago!.

Deep down I know I could never be that innocent again, however much I'd like to be.

Even when I was older, I couldn't stop asking questions.

At any rate, Daddy usually comes to my defence. Without him I wouldn't be able to stick out here.

I've found that there is always some beauty left-in nature, sunshine, freedom, in yourself; these can all help you. Look at these things, then you find yourself again, and God, and then you regain your balance. And whoever is happy will make others happy too. He who has courage and faith will never perish in misery!

Let's not talk about it any more, but if you still want anything please write to me about it, because I can say what I mean much better on paper.

What's done can't be undone, but at least you can keep it from happening again.

What one Christian does is his own responsibility, what one Jew does is thrown back at all Jews.

He clings to his solitude, to his affected indifference and his grown-up ways, but it's just an act, so as never, never to show his real feelings.

Anyhow, I've learned one thing now. You only really get to know people when you've had a jolly good row with them. Then and then only can you judge their true characters!

We lit the stove a few days ago and the entire room is filled with smoke. I prefer central heating, and I'm probably not the only one.

I simply can't imagine the world will ever be normal again for us. I do talk about "after the war," but it's as if I'm talking about a castle in the air, something that can never come true.

We've all been a little confused this past week, because our dearly beloved Westertoren bells have been carted off to be melted down for the war, so we have no idea of the exact time, either night or day.

Another fact that doesn't exactly brighten up our days is that Mr. Van Maaren, the man who works in the warehouse, is getting suspicious about the Annex.

If the truth is told, things are just as bad as you yourself care to make them.

Who knows, perhaps he doesn't care about me at all and look at the others in just the same way.

Thinking about the suffering of those you hold dear can reduce you to tears; in fact, you could spend the whole day crying.

It must be awful to feel you're not needed.

I can't let them see my doubts, or the wounds they've inflicted on me.

I had to hold my head up high and put a bold face on things, but the thoughts keep coming anyways.

Sleep makes the silence and the terrible fear go by more quickly, helps pass the time, since it's impossible to kill.

I had an occasional flash of understanding, but then got selfishly wrapped up again in my own problems and pleasures.

Who else but me is ever going to read these letters?

I also have a brand-new prescription for gunfire jitters: When the shooting gets loud, proceed to the nearest wooden staircase. Run up and down a few times, making sure to stumble at least once. What with the scratches and the noise of running and falling, you won't even be able to hear the shooting, much less worry about it. Yours truly has put this magic formula to use, with great success!

People who have a religion should be glad, for not everyone has the gift of believing in heavenly things.

I want to go on living even after my death! And therefore I am grateful to God for this gift, this possibility of developing myself and of writing, of expressing all that is in me. I can shake off everything if I write; my sorrows disappear; my courage is reborn. But, and that is the great question, will I ever be able to write anything great, will I ever become a journalist or a writer?

If God lets me live, I shall attain more than Mummy ever has done, I shall not remain insignificant, I shall work in the world and for mankind!

An empty day, though clear and bright, Is just as dark as any night.

leave me in peace, let me sleep one night at least without my pillow being wet with tears, my eyes burning and my head throbbing

People can so easily be tempted by slackness... and by money.

Sometimes I believe that God wants to try me, both now and later on; I must become good through my own efforts, without examples and without good advice.

I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that every-thing will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more.

I feel wicked sleeping in a warm bed, while my dearest friends have been knocked down or have fallen into a gutter somewhere out in the cold night. I get frightened when I think of close friends who have now been delivered into the hands of the cruelest brutes that walk the earth. And all because they are Jews!

I wonder if anyone can ever succeed in making their children content.

There's something happening everyday, but I'm too tired and lazy to write it all down.

I want to go on living after my death!

but i've slammed the door to my inner self; if he ever wants to force the lock again, he'll have to use a harder crowbar!

I... keep trying to find a way to become what I'd like to be and what I could be if... if only there were no other people in the world.

Looking back, I realize that this period of my life has irrevocably come to a close; my happy-go-lucky, carefree schooldays are gone forever. I don't even miss them. I've outgrown them. I can no longer just kid around, since my serious side is always there.

Ordinary people don't know how much books can mean to someone who's cooped up.