--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How weak am I, that I could shed tears at…" description: "\"“How weak am I, that I could shed tears at this reception! I who have never experienced anything else; who have never expected anything else.”\" — Charl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/charles-dickens-34_reception_how-weak-am-i-that-i-could-shed-tears-at_227678.jpg" --- # How weak am I, that I could shed tears at this reception!… ![“How weak am I, that I could shed tears at this reception! I who have never experienced anything else; who have never expected anything else.” quote by Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/charles-dickens-34_reception_how-weak-am-i-that-i-could-shed-tears-at_227678.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/charles-dickens-34_reception_how-weak-am-i-that-i-could-shed-tears-at_227678.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/charles-dickens-34_reception_how-weak-am-i-that-i-could-shed-tears-at_227678.jpg) > ““How weak am I, that I could shed tears at this reception! I who have never experienced anything else; who have never expected anything else.”” [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. The speaker feels ashamed for being emotionally moved, believing they should be indifferent because they lack experience or expectation. **In simple terms:** Feeling emotional despite believing one should be numb. Key Takeaway Accept that feelings are natural, regardless of experience. Themes self‑doubt emotional honesty expectations Mood reflective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - social gatherings - artistic criticism Key Concepts Victorian literature psychology Questions to Reflect On - Do you judge your feelings by past experience? - How does societal expectation shape emotional expression? A Different Perspective Emotions can arise without prior experience, challenging the notion of stoic superiority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Reception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reception/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) ## Related quotes > [A modest ring at the bell at length allayed her fears, and Miss Benton, hurrying into her own room and shutting herself up, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/a-modest-ring-at-the-bell-at-length-allayed-her-fears-and-miss-benton/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The only regret I had with you is for making me shed tears even when I don't wish to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-ismaheel/the-only-regret-i-had-with-you-is-for-making-me-shed-tears-even-when/) [Usman Ismaheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usman-ismaheel/) > [We often shed tears that deceive ourselves after deceiving others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-often-shed-tears-that-deceive-ourselves-after-deceiving-others/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A strong woman is the one who shed more tears. But use their pain as strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-malabago/a-strong-woman-is-the-one-who-shed-more-tears-but-use-their-pain-as/) [Regina Malabago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-malabago/) > [My eyes don't shed tears but boy they bawl when I'm thinking bout you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-ocean/my-eyes-don-t-shed-tears-but-boy-they-bawl-when-i-m-thinking-bout-you/) [Frank Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-ocean/) > [When I came to explain to them the 'Nelson Touch', it was like an electric shock. Some shed tears, all approved - 'It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/when-i-came-to-explain-to-them-the-nelson-touch-it-was-like-an/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [Don't trust everyone, because one day you will shed tears of blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunshine/don-t-trust-everyone-because-one-day-you-will-shed-tears-of-blood/) [SunShine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunshine/) > [If you shed tears when you miss the sun, you also miss the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/if-you-shed-tears-when-you-miss-the-sun-you-also-miss-the-stars/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [I STILL FEEL THE TOUCH OF YOUR HANDS GENTLY GRABBING MY FACE AS U AS ME, TO LET ME MAKE LOVE TO U. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rougier/i-still-feel-the-touch-of-your-hands-gently-grabbing-my-face-as-u-as/) MICHELLE ROUGIER > [Even though its been a while since you left yet the wound is still new, the scars are still fresh for each time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-ismaheel/even-though-its-been-a-while-since-you-left-yet-the-wound-is-still/) [Usman Ismaheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usman-ismaheel/) > [To all those I've loved I can't take this any more, By the time you read this, I'll be waiting at Hell's door. I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-all-those-i-ve-loved-i-can-t-take-this-any-more-by-the-time-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Those who easily shed tears for others, are those who truly love and not the weak ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/those-who-easily-shed-tears-for-others-are-those-who-truly-love-and/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [One of the heart touching statement that I do say to my love ones; shed all the tears you wish to shed while I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-ismaheel/one-of-the-heart-touching-statement-that-i-do-say-to-my-love-ones/) [Usman Ismaheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usman-ismaheel/) > [“I have shed many tears. I have been broken in my spirit. But through it all, God's grace have lifted my soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/i-have-shed-many-tears-i-have-been-broken-in-my-spirit-but-through-it/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Your illness is making me shed tears my love. But your recovery from illness is making me smile again as it assures you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arcine-arciniegas/your-illness-is-making-me-shed-tears-my-love-but-your-recovery-from/) [Arcine Arciniegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arcine-arciniegas/) ## More by Charles Dickens > [“All other swindlers upon earth are nothing to the self-swindlers, and with such pretences did I cheat myself. Surely a curious thing. That I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/all-other-swindlers-upon-earth-are-nothing-to-the-self-swindlers-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [... Arthur Gride, whose bleared eyes gloated only over the outward beauties, and were blind to the spirit which reigned within, evinced - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/arthur-gride-whose-bleared-eyes-gloated-only-over-the-outward/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-can-be-no-disparity-in-marriage-like-unsuitability-of-mind-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [A new heart for a New Year, always!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/a-new-heart-for-a-new-year-always/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Mrs. Joe was a very clean housekeeper, but had an exquisite art of making her cleanliness more uncomfortable and unacceptable than dirt itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mrs-joe-was-a-very-clean-housekeeper-but-had-an-exquisite-art-of/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [There seems a magic in the very name of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-seems-a-magic-in-the-very-name-of-christmas/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“evening, they began to think that although he could never hope to be an Englishman, still it would be hard to visit that affliction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/evening-they-began-to-think-that-although-he-could-never-hope-to-be/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Besides which, all that I could have said of the Story to any purpose, I had endeavoured to say in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/besides-which-all-that-i-could-have-said-of-the-story-to-any-purpose/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The wheels rolled on, and rolled down by the Monument, and by the Tower; and by the Docks; down by Ratcliffe, and by Rotherhithe;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-wheels-rolled-on-and-rolled-down-by-the-monument-and-by-the-tower/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The three customers pulled off their hats to Madame Defarge, with three flourishes. She acknowledged their homage by bending her head, and giving them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-three-customers-pulled-off-their-hats-to-madame-defarge-with/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“What a situation!' cried Miss Squeers; '...What is the reason that men fall in love with me, whether I like it or not, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/what-a-situation-cried-miss-squeers-what-is-the-reason-that-men-fall/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Mr. Pickwick was a philosopher, but philosophers are only men in armour, after all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mr-pickwick-was-a-philosopher-but-philosophers-are-only-men-in-armour/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) [Explore all 2,309 Charles Dickens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## More Reception quotes > [The infinity of All ever bringing forth anew, and even as infinite space is around us, so is infinite potentiality, capacity, reception, malleability, matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giordano-bruno/the-infinity-of-all-ever-bringing-forth-anew-and-even-as-infinite/) [Giordano Bruno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giordano-bruno/) > [Its impossible to control the reception of your work - the only thing you can control is the experience of writing itself, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-edwards/its-impossible-to-control-the-reception-of-your-work-the-only-thing/) [Kim Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-edwards/) > [My favorite time to dance is at, like, wedding receptions, when it's all ages and everyone seems to be having fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/my-favorite-time-to-dance-is-at-like-wedding-receptions-when-it-s-all/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [This is something essential to art: reception is never its goal. What counts for me is that my work provides material to reflect upon.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hirschhorn/this-is-something-essential-to-art-reception-is-never-its-goal-what/) Thomas Hirschhorn > [...virtue is attended by more peace of mind than vice, and meets with a more favourable reception from the world. I am sensible, that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/virtue-is-attended-by-more-peace-of-mind-than-vice-and-meets-with-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Satire is a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own; which is the chief reason for that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-beholders-do-generally-discover/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“You will learn, but you have to act. You will be given, but you have to receive. Stretch your hands and take up your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-will-learn-but-you-have-to-act-you-will-be-given-but-you-have-to/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [ I think there \[on Cuba\] is going to be an extraordinary reception.Cubans are - they want to hold onto their culture, their heritage, but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-muir/i-think-there-on-cuba-is-going-to-be-an-extraordinary-reception/) [David Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-muir/) > [No reception without reaction, no impression without correlative expression, -this is the great maxim which the teacher ought never to forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/no-reception-without-reaction-no-impression-without-correlative/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Teams don't care how long you have been there or if you are their all-time reception leader. They don't care about that. All they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-sehorn/teams-don-t-care-how-long-you-have-been-there-or-if-you-are-their-all/) [Jason Sehorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-sehorn/) > [We didn't know what the reception was going to be when we walked out on the runway, but it felt like we were in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/we-didn-t-know-what-the-reception-was-going-to-be-when-we-walked-out/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [If intellection and knowledge were mere passion from without, or the bare reception of extraneous and adventitious forms, then no reason could be given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-cudworth/if-intellection-and-knowledge-were-mere-passion-from-without-or-the/) [Ralph Cudworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-cudworth/) > [It is very rewarding to walk out on stage, feeling the love and reception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/it-is-very-rewarding-to-walk-out-on-stage-feeling-the-love-and/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [The growth of all the plants of the garden from seeds and roots keep us mindful, in accordance with of the Parable of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stokes/the-growth-of-all-the-plants-of-the-garden-from-seeds-and-roots-keep/) John Stokes > [ When \[Erwin Schrödinger\] went to the Solvay conferences in Brussels, he would walk from the station to the hotel where the delegates stayed, carrying… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dirac/when-erwin-schr-dinger-went-to-the-solvay-conferences-in-brussels-he/) [Paul Dirac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dirac/) [Browse all 197 Reception quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reception/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“How weak am I, that I could shed tears at this reception! 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