Quotes by "Charles Dickens"

There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.

I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.

Never close your lips to those whom you have already opened your heart.

Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape.

There are books of which the backs and covers are by far the best parts.

Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.

A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.

Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts. I was better after I had cried, than before--more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle.

It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.

Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.

This is a world of action, and not for moping and droning in.

If there were no bad people, there would be no good lawyers.

One always begins to forgive a place as soon as it's left behind.

"It was as true," said Mr. Barkis,... "as taxes is. And nothing's truer than them."

"It was as true", said Mr. Barkus, "as taxes is. And nothing is truer than them."

What greater gift than the love of a cat.

I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul.

Out of my thoughts! You are part of my existence, part of myself. You have been in every line I have ever read, since I first came here, the rough common boy whose poor heart you wounded even then. You have been in every prospect I have ever seen since – on the river, on the sails of the ships, on the marshes, in the clouds, in the light, in the darkness, in the wind, in the woods, in the sea, in the streets. You have been the embodiment of every graceful fancy that my mind has ever become acquainted with. The stones of which the strongest London buildings are made, are not more real, or more impossible to displace with your hands, than your presence and influence have been to me, there and everywhere, and will be. Estella, to the last hour of my life, you cannot choose but remain part of my character, part of the little good in me, part of the evil. But, in this separation I associate you only with the good, and I will faithfully hold you to that always, for you must have done me far more good than harm, let me feel now what sharp distress I may. O God bless you, God forgive you!

‎And yet I have had the weakness, and have still the weakness, to wish you to know with what a sudden mastery you kindled me, heap of ashes that I am, into fire.

The unqualified truth is, that when I loved Estella with the love of a man, I loved her simply because I found her irresistible. Once for all; I knew to my sorrow, often and often, if not always, that I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be. Once for all; I love her none the less because I knew it, and it had no more influence in restraining me, than if I had devoutly believed her to be human perfection.