14 verified quotes from 5 works, 1843 to 1865.
Charles Dickens (1812–1870) was the most popular English novelist of his century. Most of his novels first appeared in monthly or weekly parts before being published as books; A Christmas Carol (1843) was the exception, a short book written and sold in time for Christmas.
The quotes below come from A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations and Our Mutual Friend, with the speaking character named where the words are not the narrator’s. Each was matched word for word in the full text of the edition we link.
What “verified” means, and what we leave out: How we verify.
I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.
Our note: Scrooge's promise after the three spirits have visited him.
Verified in the full text of A Christmas Carol on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #46
Painted the same decade: Study of a Female Nude, Henri Lehmann, 1840
…no space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunity misused
Our note: Marley's ghost warns Scrooge about a life spent only on business.
Verified in the full text of A Christmas Carol on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #46
Painted the same decade: The Abduction of Rebecca, Eugène Delacroix, 1846
Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business.
Our note: Marley's ghost answers Scrooge's praise of his business sense.
Verified in the full text of A Christmas Carol on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #46
Painted the same decade: Study of a Female Nude, Henri Lehmann, 1840
It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humour.
Our note: The narrator, as Scrooge watches his nephew's family laugh at a Christmas party.
Verified in the full text of A Christmas Carol on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #46
Painted the same decade: The Abduction of Rebecca, Eugène Delacroix, 1846
Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness.
Our note: Mr. Micawber's famous rule for money, which he never manages to follow.
Verified in the full text of David Copperfield on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #766
Painted the same decade: Scene in the Jewish Quarter of Constantine, Théodore Chassériau, 1851
My advice is, never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time. Collar him!
Our note: Mr. Micawber's advice to young David.
Verified in the full text of David Copperfield on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #766
Painted the same decade: The Artist's Sitting Room in Ritterstrasse, Adolph Menzel, 1851
…be mean in anything; never be false; never be cruel. Avoid those three vices, Trot, and I can always be hopeful of you.
Our note: David's aunt gives him this advice as he leaves for school.
Verified in the full text of David Copperfield on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #766
Painted the same decade: Madame Frederic Breyer (Fanny Hélène Van Bruyssel, 1830–1894), Gustave Courbet, 1858
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.
Our note: The novel's first sentence.
Verified in the full text of David Copperfield on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #766
Painted the same decade: Louis Gueymard (1822–1880) as Robert le Diable, Gustave Courbet, 1857
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, …
Our note: The opening of the novel, set in London and Paris during the French Revolution.
Verified in the full text of A Tale of Two Cities on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #98
Painted the same decade: The Artist's Sitting Room in Ritterstrasse, Adolph Menzel, 1851
It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.
Our note: The final lines of the novel, imagined as Sydney Carton's thoughts.
Verified in the full text of A Tale of Two Cities on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #98
Painted the same decade: Scene in the Jewish Quarter of Constantine, Théodore Chassériau, 1851
Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts.
Our note: Pip remembers leaving his village for London.
Verified in the full text of Great Expectations on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #1400
Painted the same decade: The Woman in the Waves, Gustave Courbet, 1868
…suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be.
Our note: Estella to Pip at their meeting near the end of the novel.
Verified in the full text of Great Expectations on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #1400
Painted the same decade: The Calm Sea, Gustave Courbet, 1869
…life is made of ever so many partings welded together
Our note: The blacksmith Joe to Pip, after an awkward visit to London.
Verified in the full text of Great Expectations on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #1400
Painted the same decade: The Source of the Loue, Gustave Courbet, 1864
'No one is useless in this world,' retorted the Secretary, 'who lightens the burden of it for any one else.'
Our note: Rokesmith, working as Mr. Boffin's secretary, answers someone who calls himself useless.
Verified in the full text of Our Mutual Friend on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #883
Painted the same decade: Woman with a Parrot, Gustave Courbet, 1866
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