Portrait of Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens

Victorian novelist

Modern influential 143 sayings

Sayings by Charles Dickens

It is a pleasant thing to reflect upon, and good for a man's heart, that however poor he may be, he always has a thousand friends; and not one of them will desert him.

1836 — Sketches by Boz
General Unverifiable

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.

1861 — Great Expectations
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

The best way to make a man feel at home is to make him feel at home.

Uncertain — Attributed, common motivational quote, possibly adapted from his writings
General Unverifiable

I am not a man of many words, but I am a man of many thoughts.

Uncertain — Attributed, common motivational quote, possibly adapted from his writings
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

It was a dark and stormy night.

1830 (Bulwer-Lytton) — Opening line of 'Paul Clifford' by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, often mistakenly attributed to Dickens or u…
General Unverifiable

Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pound ought and six, result misery.

1850 — David Copperfield
General Unverifiable

Family not only need to consist of blood relations, but of all those who make you feel you belong.

Uncertain — Attributed, common motivational quote, possibly adapted from his writings
General Unverifiable

I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.

1843 — A Christmas Carol
General Unverifiable

It's a good thing to be rich, and a good thing to be strong, but it is a better thing to be beloved of many friends.

1841 — The Old Curiosity Shop
Relationships Unverifiable

He was a man who, if he had a mind to do a thing, would do it.

1861 — Great Expectations
General Unverifiable

The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.

1839 — Nicholas Nickleby
General Unverifiable

There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast.

1837 — The Pickwick Papers
General Unverifiable

I know enough of the world now, to have almost lost the capacity of being much surprised by anything.

1850 — David Copperfield
General Unverifiable

It is a melancholy truth that even great men have their poor relations.

1853 — Bleak House
Food & Drink Unverifiable

He was a man of a ponderous and solemn aspect; a man who might have been a bishop, or a judge, or a prime minister, or anything else that was grave and dignified.

1837 — The Pickwick Papers
General Unverifiable

The never-failing beauty of the spring!

1841 — The Old Curiosity Shop
General Unverifiable

There are some people who are like a good fire—they warm you up.

Uncertain — Attributed, common motivational quote, possibly adapted from his writings
General Unverifiable

Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own; and from December to March, inclusive, she is to be found in the bare ruin of her winter, as truly beautiful as in the full bloom of summer.

1839 — Nicholas Nickleby
General Unverifiable

I have been in love with the idea of being in love.

1861 — Great Expectations
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

The town was a place of great resort, and much business was done there.

1837 — The Pickwick Papers
Food & Drink Unverifiable
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