Quote 1
In fact, she herself scarcely remembered anything but that she walked up and down, saying over and over again to herself in a voice which did not seem her own, "My papa is dead! My papa is dead!" (7.155)
Well, this isn't depressing at all. Sara doesn't even have a friend to talk to about her loss, so she's left talking to herself. Someone get this girl a grief counselor, STAT.
Quote 2
"It's a lonely place," she said. "Sometimes it's the loneliest place in the world." (9.38)
Even though Sara tries to keep a stiff upper lip (yes, very British of her), she still can't help admitting it sometimes—her situation is kind of a bummer.
Quote 3
"I wish we could be 'best friends.' Would you have me for yours? You're clever and I'm the stupidest child in the school, but I—oh, I do so like you!" (3.68)
And then, Ermengarde gives her half of a heart necklace. Sara and Ermengarde feel a kinship toward each other even though everyone else thinks they're weird (for different reasons). Loners unite, right?
Quote 4
"I can write to him," she said joyfully, "and leave it on the table. Then perhaps the person who takes the things away will take it, too. I won't ask him anything. He won't mind my thanking him, I feel sure." (16.84)
Check out how Sara is even nervous about thanking her mysterious benefactor, just in case he doesn't even want to be acknowledged. Pro tip, Shmoopers: always write your thank-you notes.
Quote 5
"Nice monkey! Nice monkey!" she crooned, kissing his funny head. "Oh, I do love little animal things." (16.110)
Sara is a regular Snow White when it comes to the number of animal friends she has: rats, monkeys, and sparrows.
Quote 6
"There isn't any banquet left, Emily," she said. "And there isn't any princess. There is nothing left but the prisoners in the Bastille." And she sat down and hid her face. (15.224)
When the magic has come and gone, it's just Sara in her sad, lonely little attic. Super depressing, Shmoopers. But wait! This may be the darkest moment yet—which means that dawn can't be far behind.
Quote 7
"I WAS supposing," she said. "I was remembering that hungry day, and a child I saw." (19.13)
Even when she's as rich as a real princess (and probably richer than some), Sara will never forget her hungriest and most miserable days.
Quote 8
"I don't like it, papa," she said. "But then I dare say soldiers—even brave ones—don't really LIKE going into battle." (1.20)
Sara wouldn't be the first kid to compare going to school to the horrors of war, but she's going to keep that little chin of hers up—and face Miss Minchin's school even it if does seem horrible.
Quote 9
"Beggars have nowhere to live," she said courageously. "I have a place to live in." (9.4)
Sara has to stay brave for Lottie; otherwise she'd probably just start crying again (like usual). This is a good example of how Sara believes that princesses have to set … good examples.
Quote 10
"I was thinking," she answered grandly and politely, "that you did not know what you were doing." (11.37)
It takes some guts to stand up to Miss Minchin, who punishes Sara with horrible things like not giving her anything to eat for whole days. But Sara has too much courage to lie.
Quote 11
"I always was a thin child," she said bravely," and I always had big green eyes." (15.73)
Sara doesn't want to admit to just how starved and miserable she is. Why? Maybe because saying it would make it true—like telling the wrong kind of story about herself.
Quote 12
"I didn't want you to know," Sara said. "It would have made me feel like a street beggar. I know I look like a street beggar." (15.104)
For Ermengarde's sake, Sara keeps it together, even when her life is utterly depressing. She's like a leader putting on a brave face so her subjects don't panic.
Quote 13
"Yes," answered Sara, nodding. "Adversity tries people, and mine has tried you and proved how nice you are." (8.76)
Even though their class stations are now completely different, Ermengarde still works doggedly to maintain her friendship with Sara. After all… BFF! She may not be a heroine like Sara, but Ermengarde still has our vote.
Quote 14
"I didn't want you to know," Sara said. "It would have made me feel like a street beggar. I know I look like a street beggar." (15.104)
Sara is acutely aware of how un-rich she looks, but Ermengarde doesn't mind at all. Guess there are some benefits to being a little dim-witted.
Quote 15
"…Excuse the liberty, miss,"—to Sara—"but you look rosier and—well, better than you did that—that—"
Sara looks so different from her street-rat self by the end that the bakery woman can hardly recognize her. But she's still the same person underneath.
Quote 16
"If I'm a princess," she was saying, "if I'm a princess--when they were poor and driven from their thrones—they always shared—with the populace—if they met one poorer and hungrier than themselves." (13.33)
When she's hungry and can't take it anymore, Sara still offers to help out the poor child in the street, 'cause that's the high-class thing to do. Obviously.
Quote 17
"If I do not remind myself of the things I have learned, perhaps I may forget them," she said to herself. "I am almost a scullery maid, and if I am a scullery maid who knows nothing, I shall be like poor Becky." (8.13)
Sara has to keep her mind "rich" in order to avoid succumbing to general poverty. So, we guess you could say that she's never fully impoverished. Just mostly impoverished. Hey, it's something!
Quote 18
"I am different," she explained, "though not in the way you think. Miss Minchin does not want me to talk to the girls. Most of them don't want to talk to me." (8.56)
Sara feels awkward around Ermengarde after she's delegated to maid-work because they're no longer on the same level. But she's no different, really—it's just that people see her differently.