---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And now, as I close my task, subduing my…"
description: "\"“And now, as I close my task, subduing my desire to linger yet, these faces fade away. But one face, shining on me like a Heavenly light by which I see..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/charles-dickens-34_love_and-now-as-i-close-my-task-subduing-my-d_2726487.jpg"
---

#  And now, as I close my task, subduing my desire to linger…

![“And now, as I close my task, subduing my desire to linger yet, these faces fade away. But one face, shining on me like a Heavenly light by which I see all other objects, is above them and beyond them all. And that remains. I turn my head, and see it, in its beautiful serenity, beside me. My lamp…” quote by Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/charles-dickens-34_love_and-now-as-i-close-my-task-subduing-my-d_2726487.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/charles-dickens-34_love_and-now-as-i-close-my-task-subduing-my-d_2726487.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/charles-dickens-34_love_and-now-as-i-close-my-task-subduing-my-d_2726487.jpg)

> ““And now, as I close my task, subduing my desire to linger yet, these faces fade away. But one face, shining on me like a Heavenly light by which I see all other objects, is above them and beyond them all. And that remains. I turn my head, and see it, in its beautiful serenity, beside me. My lamp burns low, and I have written far into the night; but the dear presence, without which I were nothing, bears me company. O Agnes, O my soul, so may thy face be by me when I close my life indeed; so may I, when realities are melting from me, like the shadows which I now dismiss, still find thee near me, pointing upward!””

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Describes a guiding, heavenly presence that offers comfort and direction amid darkness.

**In simple terms:** A divine guide provides solace in hardship.

Key Takeaway

Seek inner light for guidance.

Themes

spirituality comfort guidance

Mood

contemplative hopeful

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

- religion
- personal reflection
- grief

Key Concepts

inner peace faith loneliness

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “the face” symbolize for you?
- How do you find comfort in dark times?

A Different Perspective

May not resonate with non‑spiritual readers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Beautiful Serenity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-serenity-2922254/) [Face Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-close-665107/) [Face Shining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-shining-2922255/) [Linger Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/linger-faces-2922256/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presence/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/)

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