---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, goodness me! I can't see anythin'…"
description: "\"“Well, goodness me! I can't see anythin' ter be glad about—gettin' a pair of crutches when you wanted a doll!\" Pollyanna clapped her hands. \"There is—t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/eleanor-h-porter-28329_quote_well-goodness-me-i-can-t-see-anythin-ter_1614901.jpg"
---

#  Well, goodness me! I can't see anythin' ter be glad…

![“Well, goodness me! I can't see anythin' ter be glad about—gettin' a pair of crutches when you wanted a doll!&quot; Pollyanna clapped her hands. &quot;There is—there is,&quot; she crowed. &quot;But I couldn't see it, either, Nancy, at first,&quot; she added, with quick honesty. &quot;Father had to tell it to me.&quot; &quot;Well, then…” quote by Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/eleanor-h-porter-28329_quote_well-goodness-me-i-can-t-see-anythin-ter_1614901.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/eleanor-h-porter-28329_quote_well-goodness-me-i-can-t-see-anythin-ter_1614901.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/eleanor-h-porter-28329_quote_well-goodness-me-i-can-t-see-anythin-ter_1614901.jpg)

> ““Well, goodness me! I can't see anythin' ter be glad about—gettin' a pair of crutches when you wanted a doll!" Pollyanna clapped her hands. "There is—there is," she crowed. "But I couldn't see it, either, Nancy, at first," she added, with quick honesty. "Father had to tell it to me." "Well, then, suppose YOU tell ME," almost snapped Nancy. "Goosey! Why, just be glad because you don't—NEED—'EM!" exulted Pollyanna, triumphantly. "You see it's just as easy—when you know how!" "Well,””

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Pollyanna shows that gratitude can be found even in disappointing circumstances by reframing perspective.

**In simple terms:** Find gratitude by changing how you view setbacks.

Key Takeaway

Practice seeing the hidden good.

Themes

gratitude optimism resilience

Mood

hopeful determined

Type

inspirational literary

When to use this quote

- dealing with disappointment
- caregiver stress
- personal setbacks
- daily irritations

Key Concepts

cognitive reframing positive psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you acknowledge pain while still seeking gratitude?
- When does optimism become denial?

A Different Perspective

It may ignore legitimate pain or pressure to stay positive.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Doll Pollyanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doll-pollyanna-5516779/) [Exulted Pollyanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exulted-pollyanna-6159495/) [Pollyanna Clapped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pollyanna-clapped-6159496/) [Pollyanna Triumphantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pollyanna-triumphantly-6159494/) [Wanted Doll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-doll-3344918/)

## Related quotes

> [“Miss Polly actually stamped her foot in irritation. "There you go like the rest," she shouted. "What game?" At last Nancy told her all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/miss-polly-actually-stamped-her-foot-in-irritation-there-you-go-like/)

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

> [I knew I wanted to have a doll of myself on the cover. I thought, I wanna see myself as a Ken doll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-doll-of-myself-on-the-cover-i-thought-i/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [At the age of seven, I wanted a doll with blonde hair and blue eyes like other girls in my class. But my father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shabana-azmi/at-the-age-of-seven-i-wanted-a-doll-with-blonde-hair-and-blue-eyes/)

[Shabana Azmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shabana-azmi/)

## More by Eleanor H. Porter

> [“In fact, I know that a 'nice live little boy' would be far better than - my skeleton in the closet; only - we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/in-fact-i-know-that-a-nice-live-little-boy-would-be-far-better-than/)

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

> [“I've got something besides the weather to think of. I don't know whether the sun shines or not." Pollyanna beamed joyously. "No, sir; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/i-ve-got-something-besides-the-weather-to-think-of-i-don-t-know/)

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

> [“Aunt Polly is all stirred up over it. You see, she wants Uncle Tom to have what he wants, only she wants him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/aunt-polly-is-all-stirred-up-over-it-you-see-she-wants-uncle-tom-to/)

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

> [“In his imagination he was far away in a little Western town with a missionary minister who was poor, sick, worried, and almost alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/in-his-imagination-he-was-far-away-in-a-little-western-town-with-a/)

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

> [“...she had been too busy wishing things were different to find much time to enjoy things as they were.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/she-had-been-too-busy-wishing-things-were-different-to-find-much-time/)

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

> [“Then you--weren't lovers?" Pollyanna's voice was tragic with dismay. "Never!" "And it isn't all coming out like a book? . . . Oh dear!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/then-you-weren-t-lovers-pollyanna-s-voice-was-tragic-with-dismay/)

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

> [“...only- we aren't always willing to make the exchange. We are apt to still cling to- our skeletons.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/only-we-aren-t-always-willing-to-make-the-exchange-we-are-apt-to/)

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

> [“I was growlin' one day 'cause I was so bent up and crooked; an'what do ye s'pose the little thing said? ... She said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/i-was-growlin-one-day-cause-i-was-so-bent-up-and-crooked-an-what-do/)

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

> [“Miss Polly actually stamped her foot in irritation. "There you go like the rest," she shouted. "What game?" At last Nancy told her all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/miss-polly-actually-stamped-her-foot-in-irritation-there-you-go-like/)

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

> [“I tell you, troubles are poor things to hug. They've got to many pickers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/i-tell-you-troubles-are-poor-things-to-hug-they-ve-got-to-many-pickers/)

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

> [“thank you. I love to fix people's hair," exulted”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/thank-you-i-love-to-fix-people-s-hair-exulted/)

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

> [“She did not realize it herself, but she had so long been accustomed to wanting what she did not have, that to state offhand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/she-did-not-realize-it-herself-but-she-had-so-long-been-accustomed-to/)

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

> [“I know, father-among-the-angels, I'm not playing the game one bit now—not one bit; but I don't believe even you could find anything to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/i-know-father-among-the-angels-i-m-not-playing-the-game-one-bit-now/)

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

> [“Impatience which would brook no opposition had been a part of John Pendleton's nature too long to yield very easily now to restraint”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/impatience-which-would-brook-no-opposition-had-been-a-part-of-john/)

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

> [“I wish I could prescribe her--and buy her--as I would a box of pills;--though if there gets to be many of her in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/i-wish-i-could-prescribe-her-and-buy-her-as-i-would-a-box-of-pills/)

[Eleanor H. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

[Explore all 18 Eleanor H. Porter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/)

## More Wanted Doll quotes

> [I knew I wanted to have a doll of myself on the cover. I thought, I wanna see myself as a Ken doll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-doll-of-myself-on-the-cover-i-thought-i/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [At the age of seven, I wanted a doll with blonde hair and blue eyes like other girls in my class. But my father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shabana-azmi/at-the-age-of-seven-i-wanted-a-doll-with-blonde-hair-and-blue-eyes/)

[Shabana Azmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shabana-azmi/)

[Browse all 3 Wanted Doll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-doll-3344918/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Well, goodness me! I can't see anythin' ter be glad about—gettin' a pair of crutches when you wanted a doll!\" Pollyanna clapped her hands. \"There is—there is,\" she crowed. \"But I couldn't see it, either, Nancy, at first,\" she added, with quick honesty. \"Father had to tell it to me.\" \"Well, then, suppose YOU tell ME,\" almost snapped Nancy. \"Goosey! Why, just be glad because you don't—NEED—'EM!\" exulted Pollyanna, triumphantly. \"You see it's just as easy—when you know how!\" \"Well,”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Eleanor H. Porter"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/well-goodness-me-i-can-t-see-anythin-ter-be-glad-about-gettin-a-pair/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Wanted Doll"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/well-goodness-me-i-can-t-see-anythin-ter-be-glad-about-gettin-a-pair/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/eleanor-h-porter-28329_quote_well-goodness-me-i-can-t-see-anythin-ter_1614901.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/eleanor-h-porter-28329_quote_well-goodness-me-i-can-t-see-anythin-ter_1614901.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/eleanor-h-porter-28329_quote_well-goodness-me-i-can-t-see-anythin-ter_1614901.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Well, goodness me! I can't see anythin' ter be glad about—gettin' a pair of crutches when you wanted a…” — Eleanor H. Porter",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Eleanor H. Porter",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-h-porter/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Well, goodness me! I can't see...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/well-goodness-me-i-can-t-see-anythin-ter-be-glad-about-gettin-a-pair/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-h-porter/well-goodness-me-i-can-t-see-anythin-ter-be-glad-about-gettin-a-pair/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
