Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickenswas an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity...
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth7 February 1812
abandoned beginning degraded died dream ends fighting heard home ideas inspired knew last lay leaves remorse reproach shadows shaking sight silent since sleeper sloth soul striving troubled voices whispers wish
. . . I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul. In my degradation I have not been so degraded but that the sight of you with your father, and of this home made such a home by you, has stirred old shadows that I thought had died out of me. Since I knew you, I have been troubled by a remorse that I thought would never reproach me again, and have heard whispers from old voices impelling me upward, that I thought were silent for ever. I have had unformed ideas of striving afresh, beginning anew, shaking off sloth and sensuality, and fighting out the abandoned fight. A dream, all a dream, that ends in nothing, and leaves the sleeper where he lay down, but I wish you to know that you inspired it.
confidence government miserable near quit resources saw since thoughts wretched
Yes! you are the ruin--the ruin--the ruin--of me. I have no resources in myself, I have no confidence in myself, I have no government of myself when you are near me or in my thoughts. And you are always in my thoughts now. I have never been quit of you since I first saw you. Oh, that was a wretched day for me! That was a wretched, miserable day!
sincere substitutes ardent
There is no substitute for thoroughgoing, ardent, and sincere earnestness.
express gentleman grain hide man principle since true
. . . it is a principle of his that no man who was not a true gentleman at heart, ever was, since the world began, a true gentleman in manner. He says, no varnish can hide the grain of the wood; and that the more varnish you put on, the more the grain will express itself.
left neglected quite school solitary
The school is not quite deserted, said the Ghost. ""A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still.
comfort ingenious judgments legal machines motion numerous offices public torment torture
These sequestered nooks are the public offices of the legal profession, where writs are issued, judgments signed, declarations filed, and numerous other ingenious machines put in motion for the torture and torment of His Majesty's liege subjects, and the comfort and emolument of the practitioners of the law.
affection consciousness deepest deserted eyes others possess power regard silent sympathy turned wealth
A silent look of affection and regard when all other eyes are turned coldly away--the consciousness that we possess the sympathy and affection of one being when all others have deserted us--is a hold, a stay, a comfort, in the deepest affliction, which no wealth could purchase, or power bestow.
bank educating left natives
Educating the natives of Borrioboola-Gha, on the left bank of the Niger.
drink kiss lips
Drink with me, my dear, said Mr. Weller. "Put your lips to this here tumbler, and then I can kiss you by deputy.
far hang wrong
Far better hang wrong fler than no fler.
age-and-aging calendar father full giving gray hand hard head hearts impression inexorably lays leaving lightly men none notch people quiet spirits though time women wrinkle
Father Time is not always a hard parent, and, though he tarries for none of his children, often lays his hand lightly upon those who have used him well; making them old men and women inexorably enough, but leaving their hearts and spirits young and in full vigor. With such people the gray head is but the impression of the old fellow's hand in giving them his blessing, and every wrinkle but a notch in the quiet calendar of a well-spent life.
wicked
Say, like those wicked Turks, there is no What's-his-name but Thingummy, and What-you-may-call-it is his prophet!
declines drops friend poetry
Professionally he declines and falls, and as a friend he drops into poetry.
affections best however link purest
Our affections are our consolation and comfort; and memory, however sad, is the best and purest link between this world and a better