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Charles Dickens Quotes - Page 38

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I had no advice, no counsel, no encouragement, no consolation, no assistance, no support, of any kind, from anyone, that I can call to mind, as I hope to go to heaven!

I had no advice, no counsel, no encouragement, no consolation, no assistance, no support, of any kind, from anyone, that I can call to mind, as I hope to go to heaven!

Charles Dickens
Encouragement, Support, Heaven
Jan Fields, Charles Dickens (2010). “David Copperfield”, p.331, Calico Chapter Books

And numerous indeed are the hearts to which Christmas brings a brief season of happiness and enjoyment.

Charles Dickens
Heart, Enjoyment, Seasons
Charles Dickens (2011). “A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Stories”, p.102, Penguin

There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast. Some men, like bats or owls, have better eyes for the darkness than for the light. We, who have no such optical powers, are better pleased to take our last parting look at the visionary companions of many solitary hours, when the brief sunshine of the world is blazing full upon them.

Charles Dickens
Eye, Dark, Sunshine
Charles Dickens (1838). “The posthumous papers of the Pickwick Club”, p.607

Oh the nerves, the nerves; the mysteries of this machine called man! Oh the little that unhinges it, poor creatures that we are!

Charles Dickens
Men, Worry, Anxiety
Charles Dickens (1845). “The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year in”, p.114

A commission of haberdashers could alone have reported what the rest of her poor dress was made of, but it had a strong general resemblance to seaweed, with here and there a gigantic tea-leaf. Her shawl looked particularly like a tea-leaf after long infusion.

Charles Dickens
Strong, Long, Tea
Charles Dickens (1996). “Little Dorrit”, p.97, Wordsworth Editions

She forgot to be shy at the moment, in honestly warning him away from the sunken wreck he had a dream of raising; and looked at him with eyes which assuredly, in association with her patient face, her fragile figure, her spare dress, and the wind and rain, did not turn him from his purpose of helping her.

Charles Dickens
Dream, Rain, Eye
Charles Dickens (2009). “The Complete Works of Charles Dickens (in 30 Volumes, Illustrated): Little Dorrit”, p.102, Cosimo, Inc.

It was a long and gloomy night that gathered on me, haunted by the ghosts of many hopes, of many dear remembrances, many errors, many unavailing sorrows and regrets.

Charles Dickens
Regret, Night, Errors
Charles Dickens (1850). “The Personal History of David Copperfield”, p.577

She dotes on poetry, sir. She adores it; I may say that her whole soul and mind are wound up, and entwined with it. She has produced some delightful pieces, herself, sir. You may have met with her 'Ode to an Expiring Frog,' sir.

Charles Dickens
Funny, Humorous, Soul
Charles Dickens (1838). “The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club”, p.185

It would have been cruel in Miss Havisham, horribly cruel, to practise on the susceptibility of a poor boy, and to torture me through all these years with a vain hope and an idle pursuit, if she had reflected on the gravity of what she did. But I think she did not. I think that in the endurance of her own trial, she forgot mine, Estella.

Charles Dickens
Boys, Thinking, Years
Charles Dickens (2009). “The Complete Works of Charles Dickens: Great Expectations”, p.343, Cosimo, Inc.

I distress you; I draw fast to an end.

Charles Dickens
Ends, Draws, Distress
Charles Dickens, General Press (2016). “A Tale of Two Cities: A Story of the French Revolution”, p.143, GENERAL PRESS

The boy was lying, fast asleep, on a rude bed upon the floor; so pale with anxiety, and sadness, and the closeness of his prison, that he looked like death; not death as it shews in shroud and coffin, but in the guise it wears when life has just departed; when a young and gentle spirit has, but an instant, fled to Heaven: and the gross air of the world has not had time to breathe upon the changing dust it hallowed.

Charles Dickens
Lying, Sadness, Boys
Charles Dickens (2015). “Oliver Twist: Classic English Literature”, p.144, 谷月社

The doctor seemed especially troubled by the fact of the robbery having been unexpected, and attempted in the night-time; as if it were the established custom of gentlemen in the housebreaking way to transact business at noon, and to make an appointment, by the twopenny post, a day or two previous.

Charles Dickens
Night, Doctors, Two
Charles Dickens, George Cruikshank (2015). “Oliver Twist, Volume 2 (of 3) (Illustrations)”, p.48, RICHARD BENTLEY

My heart is set, as firmly as ever heart of man was set on woman. I have no thought, no view, no hope, in life beyond her; and if you oppose me in this great stake, you take my peace and happiness in your hands, and cast them to the wind.

Charles Dickens
True Love, Heart, Men
Charles Dickens “Oliver Twist”, Lulu.com

Let the tears which fell, and the broken words which were exchanged in the long close embrace between the orphans, be sacred. A father, sister, and mother, were gained, and lost, in that one moment. Joy and grief were mingled in the cup; but there were no bitter tears: for even grief arose so softened, and clothed in such sweet and tender recollections, that it became a solemn pleasure, and lost all character of pain.

Charles Dickens
Mother, Sweet, Pain
Charles Dickens (1839). “Oliver Twist”, p.205

Fog everywhere. Fog up the river where it flows among green airs and meadows; fog down the river, where it rolls defiled among the tiers of shipping, and the waterside pollutions of a great (and dirty) city.... Chance people on the bridges peeping over the parapets into a nether sky of fog, with fog all round them, as if they were up in a balloon and hanging in the misty clouds.

Charles Dickens
Dirty, Clouds, Fog

The leprosy of unreality disfigured every human creature in attendance.

Charles Dickens
Attendance, Leprosy, Appearance
Charles Dickens (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Charles Dickens (Illustrated)”, p.6863, Delphi Classics

Little Red Riding Hood was my first love. I felt that if I could have married Little Red Riding Hood, I should have known perfect bliss.

Charles Dickens
Writing, First Love, Should Have
Charles Dickens (2009). “The Old Curiosity Shop”, p.82, Cosimo, Inc.

a most excellent man, though I could have wished his trousers not quite so tight in some places and not quite so loose in others.

Charles Dickens
Men, Excellent, Trousers
Charles Dickens (2016). “British Classics: Great Expectations”, p.318, The Planet

But the sun itself, however beneficent, generally, was less kind to Coketown than hard frost, and rarely looked intently into any of its closer regions without engendering more death than life. So does the eye of Heaven itself become an evil eye, when incapable or sordid hands are interposed between it and the thing it looks upon to bless.

Charles Dickens
Eye, Hands, Evil
Charles Dickens (2014). “Hard Times”, p.120, Trajectory Inc

I never had one hour's happiness in her society, and yet my mind all round the four-and-twenty hours was harping on the happiness of having her with me unto death.

Charles Dickens
Love, Expectations, Mind
Charles Dickens (2012). “Great Expectations Thrift Study Edition”, p.236, Courier Corporation

I verily believe that her not remembering and not minding in the least, made me cry again, inwardly - and that is the sharpest crying of all.

Charles Dickens
Believe, Remember, Cry
Charles Dickens (2010). “A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations (Oprah's Book Club): Two Novels”, p.513, Penguin

It will be your duty, and it will be your pleasure too to estimate her (as you chose her) by the qualities that she has, and not by the qualities she may not have.

Charles Dickens
Contentment, Quality, May
Charles Dickens (2006). “David Copperfield Volume III [Easyread Edition]”, p.78, ReadHowYouWant.com

I thought it very touching to see these two women, coarse and shabby and beaten, so united; to see what they could be to one another; to see how they felt for one another, how the heart of each to each was softened by the hard trials of their lives. I think the best side of such people is almost hidden from us. What the poor are to the poor is little known, excepting to themselves and God.

Charles Dickens
Heart, Thinking, Two
Charles Dickens (2017). “The Complete Novels of Charles Dickens: 20 Illustrated Classics in One Volume: Oliver Twist, The Pickwick Papers, Hard Times, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, Nicholas Nickleby, The Old Curiosity Shop, Barnaby Rudge, Martin Chuzzlewit, Dombey and Son, David Copperfield…”, p.5713, e-artnow

We went our several ways," said Lady Dedlock, "and had little in common even before we agreed to differ. It is to be regretted, I suppose, but it could not be helped.

Charles Dickens
Littles, Way, Common
Charles Dickens (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Charles Dickens (Illustrated)”, p.5279, Delphi Classics

what I want you to be - I don't mean physically but morally: you are very well physically - is a firm fellow, a fine firm fellow, with a will of your own, with resolution. with determination. with strength of character that is not to be influenced except on good reason by anybody, or by anything. That's what I want you to be. That's what your father, & your mother might both have been

Charles Dickens
Mother, Determination, Father
Charles Dickens (2014). “David Copperfield (Illustrated)”, p.537, BookRix

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