Whatever was required to be done, the Circumlocution Office was beforehand with all the public departments in the art of perceiving—HOW NOT TO DO IT. ~ Little Dorrit
Miscellaneous Quotes
We haven’t found a topic for these great quotes by Charles Dickens, so here they are in the miscellaneous category.
That sort of half—sigh, which,
That sort of half—sigh, which, accompanied by two or three slight nods of the head, is pity’s small change in general society. ~ Nicholas Nickleby
“Regrets,” said Martin, “are the
“Regrets,” said Martin, “are the natural property of grey hairs.” ~ Martin Chuzzlewit
Young men not being as
Young men not being as a class remarkable for modesty or self-denial, especially when there is a lady in the case, when, if they colour at all, it is rather their practice to colour the story, and not themselves. ~ Nicholas Nickleby
The serjeant was describing a
The serjeant was describing a military life. It was all drinking, he said, except that there were frequent intervals of eating and love-making. A battle was the finest thing in the world—when your side won it—and Englishmen always did that. ~ Barnaby Rudge
“Repression is the only lasting
“Repression is the only lasting philosophy. The dark deference of fear and slavery, my friend,” observed the Marquis, “will keep the dogs obedient to the whip, as long as this roof,” looking up to it, “shuts out the sky.” ~ A Tale of Two Cities
An ancient proverb warns us
An ancient proverb warns us that we should not expect to find old heads upon young shoulders; to which it may be added that we seldom meet with that unnatural combination, but we feel a strong desire to knock them off; merely from an inherent love we have of seeing things in their right places. ~ Martin Chuzzlewit
The secret was such an
The secret was such an old one now, had so grown into me and become a part of myself, that I could not tear it away. ~ Great Expectations
“Vengeance and retribution require a
“Vengeance and retribution require a long time; it is the rule.” ~ A Tale of Two Cities
Noah writhed and twisted his
Noah writhed and twisted his body into an extensive variety of eel-like positions; thereby giving Mr. Bumble to understand that, from the violent and sanguinary onset of Oliver Twist, he had sustained severe internal injury and damage, from which he was at that moment suffering the acutest torture. ~ Oliver Twist
