It was not because I had a strong sense of the virtue of industry, but because Joe had a strong sense of the virtue of industry, that I worked with tolerable zeal against the grain.
— Great Expectations
Charles Dickens was an English writer and journalist who created some of literature's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity in his lifetime and are still widely read.
Born in Portsmouth, he left school at age 12 to work in a boot-blacking factory when his father was jailed in a debtors' prison. He later began his literary career as a journalist. He edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels and 5 novellas, and campaigned for children's rights, education and other social reforms. His success began with the 1836 serial publication of The Pickwick Papers. Great Expectations, Oliver Twist and A Tale of Two Cities are among his most quoted works in our library.
Born in Portsmouth, he left school at age 12 to work in a boot-blacking factory when his father was jailed in a debtors' prison. He later began his literary career as a journalist. He edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels and 5 novellas, and campaigned for children's rights, education and other social reforms. His success began with the 1836 serial publication of The Pickwick Papers. Great Expectations, Oliver Twist and A Tale of Two Cities are among his most quoted works in our library.
Be natural my children. For the writer that is natural has fulfilled all the rules of
— Five Novels: Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations
It is the most miserable thing to feel ashamed at home.
— Great Expectations
You might, from your appearance, be the wife of Lucifer,” said Miss Pross, in her breathing. “Nevertheless, you shall not get the better of me. I am an Englishwoman.
— A Tale of Two Cities
My meaning is, that no man can expect his children to respect what he degrades.
— Martin Chuzzlewit
Pride is one of the seven deadly sins; but it cannot be the pride of a mother in her children, for that is a compound of two cardinal virtues — faith and hope.
— Nicholas Nickleby
But Rosa soon made the discovery that Miss Twinkleton didn't read fairly. She cut the love-scenes, interpolated passages in praise of female celibacy, and was guilty of other glaring pious frauds.
— The Mystery of Edwin Drood
A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.
— A Tale of Two Cities
...I hope that simple love and truth will be strong in the end. I hope that real love and truth are stronger in the end than any evil or misfortune in the world.
— David Copperfield
Ah me!" said he, "what might have been is not what is!
— Our Mutual Friend
In the moonlight which is always sad, as the light of the sun itself is--as the light called human life is--at its coming and its going.
— A Tale of Two Cities
His was not a lazy trustfulness that hoped, and did no more.
— David Copperfield
My sorrow may bear involuntary witness against you at the judgement Throne; but my angry thoughts or my reproaches never will, I know!
— David Copperfield
One always begins to forgive a place as soon as it’s left behind.
— Little Dorrit
I have remembered Who wept for a parting between the living and the dead.
— David Copperfield
... Any Christian spirit working kindly in its little sphere, whatever it may be, will find its mortal life too short for its vast means of usefulness!
— A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings
That I growed up a man and not a beast says something for me.
— The Chimes
The streets looked small, of course. The streets that we have only seen as children always do I believe when we go back to them
— David Copperfield
On this matter I'm inclined to agree with the French, who gaze upon any personal dietary prohibition as bad manners.
— A Tale of Two Cities
It is because I think so much of warm and sensitive hearts, that I would spare them from being wounded.
— Oliver Twist
Brag is a good dog, but Holdfast is a better.
— Great Expectations
Are you thankful for not being young?''Yes, sir. If I was young, it would all have to be gone through again, and the end would be a weary way off, don't you see?...
— Our Mutual Friend
I work pretty hard for a sufficient living, and therefore – yes, I do well.
— Great Expectations
Apprehension of a painful or disagreeable recognition made me tremble. I am confident that it took no distinctness of shape, and that it was the revival for a few minutes of the terror of childhood.
— Great Expectations