--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel as if it were not for me to…" description: "\"“I feel as if it were not for me to record, even though this manuscript is intended for no eyes but mine, how hard I worked at that tremendous short-ha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/charles-dickens-34_good-man_i-feel-as-if-it-were-not-for-me-to-recor_1558804.jpg" --- # I feel as if it were not for me to record, even though… ![“I feel as if it were not for me to record, even though this manuscript is intended for no eyes but mine, how hard I worked at that tremendous short-hand, and all improvement appertaining to it, in my sense of responsibility to Dora and her aunts. I will only add, to what I have already written of…” quote by Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/charles-dickens-34_good-man_i-feel-as-if-it-were-not-for-me-to-recor_1558804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/charles-dickens-34_good-man_i-feel-as-if-it-were-not-for-me-to-recor_1558804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/charles-dickens-34_good-man_i-feel-as-if-it-were-not-for-me-to-recor_1558804.jpg) > ““I feel as if it were not for me to record, even though this manuscript is intended for no eyes but mine, how hard I worked at that tremendous short-hand, and all improvement appertaining to it, in my sense of responsibility to Dora and her aunts. I will only add, to what I have already written of my perseverance at this time of my life, and of a patient and continuous energy which then began to be matured within me, and which I know to be the strong part of my character, if it have any strength at all, that there, on looking back, I find the source of my success. I have been very fortunate in worldly matters; many men have worked much harder, and not succeeded half so well; but I never could have done what I have done, without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one object at a time, no matter how quickly its successor should come upon its heels, which I then formed. Heaven knows I write this, in no spirit of self-laudation. The man who reviews his own life, as I do mine, in going on here, from page to page, had need to have been a good man indeed, if he would be spared the sharp consciousness of many talents neglected, many opportunities wasted, many erratic and perverted feelings constantly at war within his breast, and defeating him. I do not hold one natural gift, I dare say, that I have not abused. My meaning simply is, that whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do well; that whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself to completely; that in great aims and in small, I have always been thoroughly in earnest. I have never believed it possible that any natural or improved ability can claim immunity from the companionship of the steady, plain, hard-working qualities, and hope to gain its end. There is no such thing as such fulfilment on this earth. Some happy talent, and some fortunate opportunity, may form the two sides of the ladder on which some men mount, but the rounds of that ladder must be made of stuff to stand wear and tear; and there is no substitute for thorough-going, ardent, and sincere earnestness. Never to put one hand to anything, on which I could throw my whole self; and never to affect depreciation of my work, whatever it was; I find, now, to have been my golden rules.”” [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. Hard work, punctuality, and single‑task focus build character and lead to success despite natural talent **In simple terms:** Discipline and focus outweigh raw talent Key Takeaway Cultivate disciplined habits and single‑task focus Themes self‑improvement discipline reflection Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily work - skill development - goal pursuit - self‑review Key Concepts habit formation self‑assessment perseverance Questions to Reflect On - What habits most shape your success? - How do you balance talent with hard work? A Different Perspective Talent alone is insufficient without consistent effort ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Manuscript](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manuscript/) [Manuscript Intended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manuscript-intended-5843430/) [Perseverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perseverance/) [Sense of responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-responsibility/) [Time of my life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-of-my-life/) [Two sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-sides/) [Work ethic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-ethic/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) [Written Perseverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-perseverance-5843429/) ## Related quotes > [“I should like to ask you:-Does your childhood seem far off? 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I will only add, to what I have already written of my perseverance at this time of my life, and of a patient and continuous energy which then began to be matured within me, and which I know to be the strong part of my character, if it have any strength at all, that there, on looking back, I find the source of my success. I have been very fortunate in worldly matters; many men have worked much harder, and not succeeded half so well; but I never could have done what I have done, without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one object at a time, no matter how quickly its successor should come upon its heels, which I then formed. Heaven knows I write this, in no spirit of self-laudation. The man who reviews his own life, as I do mine, in going on here, from page to page, had need to have been a good man indeed, if he would be spared the sharp consciousness of many talents neglected, many opportunities wasted, many erratic and perverted feelings constantly at war within his breast, and defeating him. I do not hold one natural gift, I dare say, that I have not abused. My meaning simply is, that whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do well; that whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself to completely; that in great aims and in small, I have always been thoroughly in earnest. I have never believed it possible that any natural or improved ability can claim immunity from the companionship of the steady, plain, hard-working qualities, and hope to gain its end. There is no such thing as such fulfilment on this earth. Some happy talent, and some fortunate opportunity, may form the two sides of the ladder on which some men mount, but the rounds of that ladder must be made of stuff to stand wear and tear; and there is no substitute for thorough-going, ardent, and sincere earnestness. 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