Charles Dickens Quotes & Sayings

“Give me a moment, because I like to cry for joy. It's so delicious, John dear, to cry for joy.”

“Scattered wits take a long time in picking up.”

“Come in — come in! And know me better, man! I am the Ghost of Christmas Present. Look upon me! You have never seen the like of me before!”

“Let me feel now what sharp distress I may.”

“Detestation of the high is the involuntary homage of the low.”

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

“I want to escape from myself. For when I do start up and stare myself seedily in the face, as happens to be my case at present, my blankness is inconceivable—indescribable; my misery amazing.”

“I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free. Mankind will surely not deny to Harold Skimpole what it concedes to the butterflies.”

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

“An idea, like a ghost, must be spoken to a little before it will explain itself.”

“The aphorism "Whatever is, is right," would be as final as it is lazy, did it not include the troublesome consequence that nothing that ever was, was wrong.”

“The last trumpet ever to be sounded shall blow even algebra to wreck.”

“I was so humiliated, hurt, spurned, offended, angry, sorry — I cannot hit upon the right name for the smart — God knows what its name was — that tears started to my eyes.”

“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!”

“Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!”

“The year-end brings no greater pleasure than the opportunity to express to you season's greetings and good wishes. May your holidays and New Year be filled with joy.”

“Then tell wind and fire where to stop, but don't tell me.”

“No space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunity misused.”

“My advice is: never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time.”

“It's in vain to recall the past, unless it works some influence upon the present.”

“My life is one damned, horrid grind.”

“When the wind is blowing and the sleet or rain is driving against the dark windows, I love to sit by the fire, thinking of what I have read in books of voyage and travel.”

“In a utilitarian age, of all other times, it is a matter of grave importance that fairy tales should be respected.”

“Try to do unto others as you would have them do to you, and do not be discouraged if they fail sometimes. It is much better that they should fail than you.”