--- title: "20 Dickens Quotes By Claire Tomalin" description: "20 Dickens quotes by Claire Tomalin. Plus more from Claire Tomalin and more Dickens sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/claire-tomalin-8837_characters_the-whole-world-knows-dickens-his-london_1220759.jpg" --- > [The whole world knows Dickens, his London and his characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/the-whole-world-knows-dickens-his-london-and-his-characters/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/claire-tomalin-8837_characters_the-whole-world-knows-dickens-his-london_1220759.jpg) > [Dickens is always full of surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/dickens-is-always-full-of-surprises/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/claire-tomalin-8837_always_dickens-is-always-full-of-surprises-1175_1175265.jpg) > [Dickens was very practical and sensible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/dickens-was-very-practical-and-sensible/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/claire-tomalin-8837_dickens_dickens-was-very-practical-and-sensible_1933918.jpg) > [The young Dickens was so alive, so self-confident, so funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/the-young-dickens-was-so-alive-so-self-confident-so-funny/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/737/claire-tomalin-8837_alive_the-young-dickens-was-so-alive-so-self-c_1627598.jpg) > [Throughout his life, Dickens cared passionately about orphans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/throughout-his-life-dickens-cared-passionately-about-orphans/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/claire-tomalin-8837_about_throughout-his-life-dickens-cared-passio_656359.jpg) > [Dickens belongs to the English people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/dickens-belongs-to-the-english-people/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/claire-tomalin-8837_belongs_dickens-belongs-to-the-english-people-15_1527308.jpg) > [Writing Charles Dickens' biography is like writing five biographies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/writing-charles-dickens-biography-is-like-writing-five-biographies/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3c/claire-tomalin-8837_biographies_writing-charles-dickens-biography-is-lik_1326181.jpg) > [Dickens is a lover of human beings; a relisher of human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/dickens-is-a-lover-of-human-beings-a-relisher-of-human-beings/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/claire-tomalin-8837_beings_dickens-is-a-lover-of-human-beings-a-rel_589972.jpg) > [“He left a trail like a meteor, and everyone finds their own version of Charles Dickens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/he-left-a-trail-like-a-meteor-and-everyone-finds-their-own-version-of/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/claire-tomalin-8837_charles-dickens_he-left-a-trail-like-a-meteor-and-everyo_1614410.jpg) > [Dickens had more energy than anyone in the world, and he expected his sons to be like him, and they couldn't be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/dickens-had-more-energy-than-anyone-in-the-world-and-he-expected-his/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec2/claire-tomalin-8837_anyone_dickens-had-more-energy-than-anyone-in-t_2650376.jpg) > [As a young man, Dickens worked as a reporter in the House of Commons and hated it. He felt that all politicians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/as-a-young-man-dickens-worked-as-a-reporter-in-the-house-of-commons/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/claire-tomalin-8837_commons_as-a-young-man-dickens-worked-as-a-repor_935670.jpg) > [Dickens was a part of how the whole celebration of Christmas as we know it today emerged during the 19th century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/dickens-was-a-part-of-how-the-whole-celebration-of-christmas-as-we/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/claire-tomalin-8837_19th-century_dickens-was-a-part-of-how-the-whole-cele_1410843.jpg) > [After Shakespeare, Dickens is the great creator of characters, multiple characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/after-shakespeare-dickens-is-the-great-creator-of-characters-multiple/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/claire-tomalin-8837_after_after-shakespeare-dickens-is-the-great-c_1276229.jpg) > [Dickens never joined a political party nor put forward a political programme. He was a writer who rightly saw his power as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/dickens-never-joined-a-political-party-nor-put-forward-a-political/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/claire-tomalin-8837_coming_dickens-never-joined-a-political-party-n_625591.jpg) > [When you live with Dickens for years, reading him and trying to present him as faithfully as you can, you can't fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/when-you-live-with-dickens-for-years-reading-him-and-trying-to/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/claire-tomalin-8837_bad_when-you-live-with-dickens-for-years-rea_2401683.jpg) > [I've behaved badly in my life. I hope I haven't behaved as badly as Dickens! In a way, if you're a woman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/i-ve-behaved-badly-in-my-life-i-hope-i-haven-t-behaved-as-badly-as/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ec/claire-tomalin-8837_badly_i-ve-behaved-badly-in-my-life-i-hope-i-h_377618.jpg) > ['A Christmas Carol' has been described as the most perfect of Dickens's works and as a quintessential heart-warming story, and it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/a-christmas-carol-has-been-described-as-the-most-perfect-of-dickens-s/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/claire-tomalin-8837_been_a-christmas-carol-has-been-described-as_1430377.jpg) > [As he approached his 28th birthday in February 1840, Dickens knew himself to be famous, successful and tired. He needed a rest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/as-he-approached-his-28th-birthday-in-february-1840-dickens-knew/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/claire-tomalin-8837_another_as-he-approached-his-28th-birthday-in-fe_3215762.jpg) > [I have been fascinated by Dickens worshippers who strenuously deny that he did anything wrong in relation to his wife, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/i-have-been-fascinated-by-dickens-worshippers-who-strenuously-deny/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/claire-tomalin-8837_anything_i-have-been-fascinated-by-dickens-worshi_1925318.jpg) > [Everyone finds their own version of Charles Dickens. The child-victim, the irrepressibly ambitious young man, the reporter, the demonic worker, the tireless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/everyone-finds-their-own-version-of-charles-dickens-the-child-victim/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/claire-tomalin-8837_ambitious_everyone-finds-their-own-version-of-char_2559629.jpg) ## Other authors on Dickens ## More by Claire Tomalin > [“Poor Nelly, she was not to know that fashions in sin change as much as other fashions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/poor-nelly-she-was-not-to-know-that-fashions-in-sin-change-as-much-as/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [I always feel sad when I come to the end of a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/i-always-feel-sad-when-i-come-to-the-end-of-a-book/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [I would like to have a more social life than I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/i-would-like-to-have-a-more-social-life-than-i-have/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [I continually get more information about a subject after the book has been published.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/i-continually-get-more-information-about-a-subject-after-the-book-has/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [I was working at the 'Evening Standard' when I heard that there was a job going as deputy literary editor on the 'New Statesman.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/i-was-working-at-the-evening-standard-when-i-heard-that-there-was-a/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [I've behaved badly in my life. I hope I haven't behaved as badly as Dickens! In a way, if you're a woman, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/i-ve-behaved-badly-in-my-life-i-hope-i-haven-t-behaved-as-badly-as/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [Simon Russell Beale is an incomparable speaker of Shakespeare and a superb all-round actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/simon-russell-beale-is-an-incomparable-speaker-of-shakespeare-and-a/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [I sometimes think that, since I started writing biographies, I've had more of a life in books than I have had in my real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/i-sometimes-think-that-since-i-started-writing-biographies-i-ve-had/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [Poetry was one of the things that interested me most as I was growing up. I used to write it in my head all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/poetry-was-one-of-the-things-that-interested-me-most-as-i-was-growing/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [Biographers search for traces, for evidence of activity, for signs of movement, for letters, for diaries, for photographs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/biographers-search-for-traces-for-evidence-of-activity-for-signs-of/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [You become more tolerant when you become older. You're not interested in rapping people over the knuckles; you're interested in understanding them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/you-become-more-tolerant-when-you-become-older-you-re-not-interested/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [Dickens is a lover of human beings; a relisher of human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/dickens-is-a-lover-of-human-beings-a-relisher-of-human-beings/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [Dickens never joined a political party nor put forward a political programme. He was a writer who rightly saw his power as coming through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/dickens-never-joined-a-political-party-nor-put-forward-a-political/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [Throughout his life, Dickens cared passionately about orphans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/throughout-his-life-dickens-cared-passionately-about-orphans/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [It's a difficult thing to lose a child, a grown-up child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/it-s-a-difficult-thing-to-lose-a-child-a-grown-up-child/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dickens/claire-tomalin/#itemlist", "name": "20 Dickens Quotes By Claire Tomalin", "numberOfItems": 20, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The whole world knows Dickens, his London and his characters.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/the-whole-world-knows-dickens-his-london-and-his-characters/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/claire-tomalin-8837_characters_the-whole-world-knows-dickens-his-london_1220759.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/claire-tomalin-8837_characters_the-whole-world-knows-dickens-his-london_1220759.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/claire-tomalin-8837_characters_the-whole-world-knows-dickens-his-london_1220759.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The whole world knows Dickens, his London and his characters.” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dickens is always full of surprises.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/dickens-is-always-full-of-surprises/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/claire-tomalin-8837_always_dickens-is-always-full-of-surprises-1175_1175265.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/claire-tomalin-8837_always_dickens-is-always-full-of-surprises-1175_1175265.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/claire-tomalin-8837_always_dickens-is-always-full-of-surprises-1175_1175265.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Dickens is always full of surprises.” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dickens was very practical and sensible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/dickens-was-very-practical-and-sensible/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/claire-tomalin-8837_dickens_dickens-was-very-practical-and-sensible_1933918.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/claire-tomalin-8837_dickens_dickens-was-very-practical-and-sensible_1933918.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/claire-tomalin-8837_dickens_dickens-was-very-practical-and-sensible_1933918.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Dickens was very practical and sensible.” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The young Dickens was so alive, so self-confident, so funny.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/the-young-dickens-was-so-alive-so-self-confident-so-funny/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/737/claire-tomalin-8837_alive_the-young-dickens-was-so-alive-so-self-c_1627598.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/737/claire-tomalin-8837_alive_the-young-dickens-was-so-alive-so-self-c_1627598.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/737/claire-tomalin-8837_alive_the-young-dickens-was-so-alive-so-self-c_1627598.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The young Dickens was so alive, so self-confident, so funny.” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Throughout his life, Dickens cared passionately about orphans.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/throughout-his-life-dickens-cared-passionately-about-orphans/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/claire-tomalin-8837_about_throughout-his-life-dickens-cared-passio_656359.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/claire-tomalin-8837_about_throughout-his-life-dickens-cared-passio_656359.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/claire-tomalin-8837_about_throughout-his-life-dickens-cared-passio_656359.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Throughout his life, Dickens cared passionately about orphans.” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dickens belongs to the English people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/dickens-belongs-to-the-english-people/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/claire-tomalin-8837_belongs_dickens-belongs-to-the-english-people-15_1527308.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/claire-tomalin-8837_belongs_dickens-belongs-to-the-english-people-15_1527308.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/claire-tomalin-8837_belongs_dickens-belongs-to-the-english-people-15_1527308.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Dickens belongs to the English people.” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Writing Charles Dickens' biography is like writing five biographies.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/writing-charles-dickens-biography-is-like-writing-five-biographies/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3c/claire-tomalin-8837_biographies_writing-charles-dickens-biography-is-lik_1326181.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3c/claire-tomalin-8837_biographies_writing-charles-dickens-biography-is-lik_1326181.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3c/claire-tomalin-8837_biographies_writing-charles-dickens-biography-is-lik_1326181.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Writing Charles Dickens' biography is like writing five biographies.” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dickens is a lover of human beings; a relisher of human beings.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/dickens-is-a-lover-of-human-beings-a-relisher-of-human-beings/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/claire-tomalin-8837_beings_dickens-is-a-lover-of-human-beings-a-rel_589972.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/claire-tomalin-8837_beings_dickens-is-a-lover-of-human-beings-a-rel_589972.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/claire-tomalin-8837_beings_dickens-is-a-lover-of-human-beings-a-rel_589972.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Dickens is a lover of human beings; a relisher of human beings.” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He left a trail like a meteor, and everyone finds their own version of Charles Dickens.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/he-left-a-trail-like-a-meteor-and-everyone-finds-their-own-version-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/claire-tomalin-8837_charles-dickens_he-left-a-trail-like-a-meteor-and-everyo_1614410.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/claire-tomalin-8837_charles-dickens_he-left-a-trail-like-a-meteor-and-everyo_1614410.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/claire-tomalin-8837_charles-dickens_he-left-a-trail-like-a-meteor-and-everyo_1614410.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He left a trail like a meteor, and everyone finds their own version of Charles Dickens.” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dickens had more energy than anyone in the world, and he expected his sons to be like him, and they couldn't be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/dickens-had-more-energy-than-anyone-in-the-world-and-he-expected-his/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec2/claire-tomalin-8837_anyone_dickens-had-more-energy-than-anyone-in-t_2650376.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec2/claire-tomalin-8837_anyone_dickens-had-more-energy-than-anyone-in-t_2650376.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec2/claire-tomalin-8837_anyone_dickens-had-more-energy-than-anyone-in-t_2650376.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Dickens had more energy than anyone in the world, and he expected his sons to be like him, and they couldn't…” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 11, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a young man, Dickens worked as a reporter in the House of Commons and hated it. He felt that all politicians spoke with the same voice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/as-a-young-man-dickens-worked-as-a-reporter-in-the-house-of-commons/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/claire-tomalin-8837_commons_as-a-young-man-dickens-worked-as-a-repor_935670.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/claire-tomalin-8837_commons_as-a-young-man-dickens-worked-as-a-repor_935670.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/claire-tomalin-8837_commons_as-a-young-man-dickens-worked-as-a-repor_935670.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As a young man, Dickens worked as a reporter in the House of Commons and hated it. He felt that all…” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 12, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dickens was a part of how the whole celebration of Christmas as we know it today emerged during the 19th century.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/dickens-was-a-part-of-how-the-whole-celebration-of-christmas-as-we/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/claire-tomalin-8837_19th-century_dickens-was-a-part-of-how-the-whole-cele_1410843.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/claire-tomalin-8837_19th-century_dickens-was-a-part-of-how-the-whole-cele_1410843.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/claire-tomalin-8837_19th-century_dickens-was-a-part-of-how-the-whole-cele_1410843.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Dickens was a part of how the whole celebration of Christmas as we know it today emerged during the 19th…” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 13, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "After Shakespeare, Dickens is the great creator of characters, multiple characters.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/after-shakespeare-dickens-is-the-great-creator-of-characters-multiple/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/claire-tomalin-8837_after_after-shakespeare-dickens-is-the-great-c_1276229.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/claire-tomalin-8837_after_after-shakespeare-dickens-is-the-great-c_1276229.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/claire-tomalin-8837_after_after-shakespeare-dickens-is-the-great-c_1276229.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“After Shakespeare, Dickens is the great creator of characters, multiple characters.” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 14, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dickens never joined a political party nor put forward a political programme. He was a writer who rightly saw his power as coming through his fiction.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/dickens-never-joined-a-political-party-nor-put-forward-a-political/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/claire-tomalin-8837_coming_dickens-never-joined-a-political-party-n_625591.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/claire-tomalin-8837_coming_dickens-never-joined-a-political-party-n_625591.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/claire-tomalin-8837_coming_dickens-never-joined-a-political-party-n_625591.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Dickens never joined a political party nor put forward a political programme. He was a writer who rightly…” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 15, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you live with Dickens for years, reading him and trying to present him as faithfully as you can, you can't fail to love the man - so the shock of his bad behaviour is considerable, even when you know it is coming.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/when-you-live-with-dickens-for-years-reading-him-and-trying-to/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/claire-tomalin-8837_bad_when-you-live-with-dickens-for-years-rea_2401683.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/claire-tomalin-8837_bad_when-you-live-with-dickens-for-years-rea_2401683.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/claire-tomalin-8837_bad_when-you-live-with-dickens-for-years-rea_2401683.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you live with Dickens for years, reading him and trying to present him as faithfully as you can, you…” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 16, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've behaved badly in my life. I hope I haven't behaved as badly as Dickens! In a way, if you're a woman, you're not in a position to behave as badly, because you don't have the economic power.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/i-ve-behaved-badly-in-my-life-i-hope-i-haven-t-behaved-as-badly-as/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ec/claire-tomalin-8837_badly_i-ve-behaved-badly-in-my-life-i-hope-i-h_377618.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ec/claire-tomalin-8837_badly_i-ve-behaved-badly-in-my-life-i-hope-i-h_377618.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ec/claire-tomalin-8837_badly_i-ve-behaved-badly-in-my-life-i-hope-i-h_377618.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've behaved badly in my life. I hope I haven't behaved as badly as Dickens! In a way, if you're a woman…” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 17, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'A Christmas Carol' has been described as the most perfect of Dickens's works and as a quintessential heart-warming story, and it is certainly the most popular.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/a-christmas-carol-has-been-described-as-the-most-perfect-of-dickens-s/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/claire-tomalin-8837_been_a-christmas-carol-has-been-described-as_1430377.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/claire-tomalin-8837_been_a-christmas-carol-has-been-described-as_1430377.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/claire-tomalin-8837_been_a-christmas-carol-has-been-described-as_1430377.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“'A Christmas Carol' has been described as the most perfect of Dickens's works and as a quintessential…” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 18, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As he approached his 28th birthday in February 1840, Dickens knew himself to be famous, successful and tired. He needed a rest, and he made up his mind to keep the year free of the pressure of producing monthly installments of yet another long novel.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/as-he-approached-his-28th-birthday-in-february-1840-dickens-knew/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/claire-tomalin-8837_another_as-he-approached-his-28th-birthday-in-fe_3215762.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/claire-tomalin-8837_another_as-he-approached-his-28th-birthday-in-fe_3215762.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/claire-tomalin-8837_another_as-he-approached-his-28th-birthday-in-fe_3215762.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As he approached his 28th birthday in February 1840, Dickens knew himself to be famous, successful and…” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 19, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have been fascinated by Dickens worshippers who strenuously deny that he did anything wrong in relation to his wife, even though the record is clear that he did.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/i-have-been-fascinated-by-dickens-worshippers-who-strenuously-deny/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/claire-tomalin-8837_anything_i-have-been-fascinated-by-dickens-worshi_1925318.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/claire-tomalin-8837_anything_i-have-been-fascinated-by-dickens-worshi_1925318.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/claire-tomalin-8837_anything_i-have-been-fascinated-by-dickens-worshi_1925318.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have been fascinated by Dickens worshippers who strenuously deny that he did anything wrong in relation to…” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 20, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everyone finds their own version of Charles Dickens. The child-victim, the irrepressibly ambitious young man, the reporter, the demonic worker, the tireless walker. The radical, the protector of orphans, helper of the needy, man of good works, the republican. The hater and the lover of America. The giver of parties, the magician, the traveler.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Tomalin" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/everyone-finds-their-own-version-of-charles-dickens-the-child-victim/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/claire-tomalin-8837_ambitious_everyone-finds-their-own-version-of-char_2559629.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/claire-tomalin-8837_ambitious_everyone-finds-their-own-version-of-char_2559629.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/claire-tomalin-8837_ambitious_everyone-finds-their-own-version-of-char_2559629.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Everyone finds their own version of Charles Dickens. The child-victim, the irrepressibly ambitious young…” — Claire Tomalin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dickens/claire-tomalin/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dickens/claire-tomalin/", "name": "Dickens Quotes by Claire Tomalin", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dickens/claire-tomalin/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12d/claire-tomalin-8837_characters_the-whole-world-knows-dickens-his-london_1220759.jpg" }, "description": "20 Dickens quotes by Claire Tomalin. Plus more from Claire Tomalin and more Dickens sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dickens/claire-tomalin/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dickens/claire-tomalin/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Topics", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Dickens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dickens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Claire Tomalin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dickens/claire-tomalin/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```