Character Quotes by Charles Dickens

Let us be moral. Let us contemplate existence.

— Charles Dickens

Vices are sometimes only virtues carried to excess!

— Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist has asked for more!

— Charles Dickens

She writhes under her life. A woman more angry, passionate, reckless, and revengeful never lived.

— Charles Dickens

The cramped monotony of my existence grinds me away by the grain.

— Charles Dickens

She had gained a reputation for beauty, and (which is often another thing) was beautiful.

— Charles Dickens

But the words she spoke of Mrs Harris, lambs could not forgive ... nor worms forget.

— Charles Dickens

A brisk, bright, blue-eyed fellow, a very neat figure and rather under the middle size, never out of the way and never…

— Charles Dickens

Madam," replied Mr. Micawber, "it is my intention to register such a vow on the virgin page of the future.

— Charles Dickens

“Such is the sleight of hand by which we juggle with ourselves, and change our very weaknesses into stanch and most magnanimous…

— Charles Dickens

The expression of a man's face is commonly a help to his thoughts, or glossary on his speech; but the countenance of…

— Charles Dickens

He had a cringing manner, but a very harsh voice; and his blandest smiles were so extremely forbidding, that to have had…

— Charles Dickens

It was understood that nothing of a tender nature could possibly be confided to old Barley, by reason of his being totally…

— Charles Dickens

The more especially, as in my juvenile frankness, I took some credit to myself for being so confidential and felt that I…

— Charles Dickens

If her eyes had no expression, it was probably because they had nothing to express. If she had few wrinkles, it was…

— Charles Dickens

Ecod, you may say what you like of my father, then, and so I give you leave," said Jonas. "I think it's…

— Charles Dickens

I found Uriah reading a great fat book, with such demonstrative attention, that his lank forefinger followed up every line as he…

— Charles Dickens

Accidents will occur in the best-regulated families; and in families not regulated by that pervading influence which sanctifies while it enhances... in…

— Charles Dickens

Flora, always tall, had grown to be very broad too, and short of breath; but that was not much. Flora, whom he…

— Charles Dickens

One thing about this face was very strange and startling. You could not look upon it in its most cheerful mood without…

— Charles Dickens

“was a fundamental principle of the Gradgrind philosophy that everything was to be paid for. Nobody was ever on any account to…

— Charles Dickens

He had a certain air of being a handsome man-which he was not; and a certain air of being a well-bred man-which…

— Charles Dickens

... when he saw her sitting there all alone, so young, and good, and beautiful, and kind to him; and heard her…

— Charles Dickens

what I want you to be - I don't mean physically but morally: you are very well physically - is a firm…

— Charles Dickens

The present representative of the Dedlocks is an excellent master.He supposes all his dependents to be utterly bereft of individual characters, intentions…

— Charles Dickens

Indeed the worthy housewife was of such a capricious nature, that she not only attained a higher pitch of genius than Macbeth,…

— Charles Dickens

Sir," returned Mrs. Sparsit, " I cannot say that i have heard him precisely snore, and therefore must not make that statement.…

— Charles Dickens

As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were…

— Charles Dickens

“Bradley Headstone, in his decent black coat and waistcoat, and decent white shirt, and decent formal black tie, and decent pantaloons of…

— Charles Dickens

The first diabolical character who intruded himself on my peaceful youth (as I called to mind that day at Dullborough), was a…

— Charles Dickens

I know quite enough of myself," said Bella, with a charming air of being inclined to give herself up as a bad…

— Charles Dickens

The citizen ... preserved the resolute bearing of one who was not to be frowned down or daunted, and who cared very…

— Charles Dickens

My daughter, there are times of moral danger when the hardest virtuous resolution to form is flight, and when the most heroic…

— Charles Dickens

Everything that Mr Smallweed's grandfather ever put away in his mind was a grub at first, and is a grub at last.…

— Charles Dickens

Would you, do you, my dear?" rejoined the Captain ... "I don't know. It's difficult navigation. She's very hard to carry on…

— Charles Dickens

Then idiots talk," said Eugene, leaning back, folding his arms, smoking with his eyes shut, and speaking slightly through his nose, "of…

— Charles Dickens

Being that rare sort of old girl that she receives Good to her arms without a hint that it might be Better…

— Charles Dickens

Newman cast a despairing glance at his small store of fuel, but, not having the courage to say no-a word which in…

— Charles Dickens

“It was considered at the time a striking proof of virtue in the young king that he was sorry for his father's…

— Charles Dickens

“The only difference between us and the professors of virtue or benevolence, or philanthropy - never mind the name - is that…

— Charles Dickens