--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have always thought of Christmas…" description: "\"I have always thought of Christmas time... as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time.\" — Charles Dickens" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/charles-dickens-34_best-christmas_i-have-always-thought-of-christmas-time_2811329.jpg" --- # I have always thought of Christmas time... as a good time… ![“I have always thought of Christmas time... as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time.” quote by Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/charles-dickens-34_best-christmas_i-have-always-thought-of-christmas-time_2811329.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/charles-dickens-34_best-christmas_i-have-always-thought-of-christmas-time_2811329.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/charles-dickens-34_best-christmas_i-have-always-thought-of-christmas-time_2811329.jpg) > “I have always thought of Christmas time... as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time.” [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. Christmas is portrayed as a season of generosity, forgiveness, and kindness, encouraging people to act benevolently. **In simple terms:** Christmas should be kind and giving. Key Takeaway Embrace generosity during holidays. Themes kindness forgiveness charity celebration Mood warm reflective Type inspirational seasonal When to use this quote - family gatherings - charitable acts - holiday volunteering - community events Key Concepts Victorian morality social critique Questions to Reflect On - How can you extend kindness to those who feel alone? - What traditions help you embody generosity? A Different Perspective Not everyone experiences the season positively; some face loss or hardship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-christmas/) [Best holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-holiday/) [Carols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carols/) [Charitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charitable/) [Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas/) [Christmas card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-card/) [Christmas carol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-carol/) [Christmas eve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-eve/) [Christmas friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-friendship/) [Christmas giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-giving/) [Christmas holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-holiday/) [Christmas holiday greetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-holiday-greetings/) [Christmas joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-joy/) [Christmas love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-love/) [Christmas peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-peace/) [Christmas thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-thoughts/) [Christmas time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-time/) [Christmas wishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-wishes/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Good time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-time/) [Good times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-times/) [Happy holidays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-holidays/) [Holiday cheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiday-cheer/) [Inspirational christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-christmas/) [Inspirational holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-holiday/) [Merry christmas cards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merry-christmas-cards/) [Merry christmas wishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merry-christmas-wishes/) [Positive holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-holiday/) [Scrooge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scrooge/) [Short christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-christmas/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Winter christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winter-christmas/) [Winter holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winter-holiday/) ## Related quotes > [Christmas is a time when everybody wants his past forgotten and his present remembered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/christmas-is-a-time-when-everybody-wants-his-past-forgotten-and-his/) [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) > [Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/why-are-we-not-grateful-to-god-for-filling-our-stockings-with-legs/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oren-arnold/christmas-gift-suggestions-to-your-enemy-forgiveness-to-an-opponent-2/) [Oren Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oren-arnold/) > [To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oren-arnold/to-your-enemy-forgiveness-to-an-opponent-tolerance-to-a-friend-heart/) [Oren Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oren-arnold/) > [But I am sure that I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round...as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/but-i-am-sure-that-i-have-always-thought-of-christmas-time-when-it/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round—apart from the veneration due to its sacred name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/but-i-am-sure-i-have-always-thought-of-christmas-time-when-it-has-2/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/a-merry-christmas-to-everybody-a-happy-new-year-to-all-the-world/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elf/the-best-way-to-spread-christmas-cheer-is-singing-loud-for-all-to-hear/) Elf > [Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karolyn-grimes/every-time-a-bell-rings-an-angel-gets-his-wings/) Karolyn Grimes > [The worst gift is a fruitcake. There is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-worst-gift-is-a-fruitcake-there-is-only-one-fruitcake-in-the/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [The earth has grown old with its burden of care, But at Christmas it always is young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/the-earth-has-grown-old-with-its-burden-of-care-but-at-christmas-it/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Christmas is for children. But it is for grownups too. Even if it is a headache, a chore, and nightmare, it is a period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenora-mattingly-weber/christmas-is-for-children-but-it-is-for-grownups-too-even-if-it-is-a/) Lenora Mattingly Weber > [Isn't it funny that at Christmas something in you gets so lonely for - I don't know what exactly, but it's something that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-langley-bosher/isn-t-it-funny-that-at-christmas-something-in-you-gets-so-lonely-for/) [Kate Langley Bosher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-langley-bosher/) > [I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day. We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stannard-baker/i-sometimes-think-we-expect-too-much-of-christmas-day-we-try-to-crowd-2/) [Ray Stannard Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stannard-baker/) > [England was merry England, when Old Christmas brought his sports again. 'Twas Christmas broach'd the mightiest ale; 'Twas Christmas told the merriest tale; A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/england-was-merry-england-when-old-christmas-brought-his-sports-again/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) ## 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 Best christmas quotes > [May the joy and peace of Christmas be with you all through the Year. Wishing you a season of blessings from heaven above. Merry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-the-joy-and-peace-of-christmas-be-with-you-all-through-the-year/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-thomas-ellis/blessed-is-the-season-which-engages-the-whole-world-in-a-conspiracy/) William Thomas Ellis > [“Hello, Tracey Wilson, from the great state of Illinois! I think Fanny and Alexander is a great choice for a weekend rental. It’s one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dexter-palmer/hello-tracey-wilson-from-the-great-state-of-illinois-i-think-fanny/) [Dexter Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dexter-palmer/) > [Simply having you here is the best Christmas present I could ever have. Thank you for making this year so wonderful and I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/axiz/simply-having-you-here-is-the-best-christmas-present-i-could-ever/) Axiz > [For centuries men have kept an appointment with Christmas. Christmas means fellowship, feasting, giving and receiving, a time of good cheer, home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-centuries-men-have-kept-an-appointment-with-christmas-christmas/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Isn't it funny that at Christmas something in you gets so lonely for - I don't know what exactly, but it's something that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-langley-bosher/isn-t-it-funny-that-at-christmas-something-in-you-gets-so-lonely-for/) [Kate Langley Bosher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-langley-bosher/) > [To the American People: Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/to-the-american-people-christmas-is-not-a-time-or-a-season-but-a/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [The best Christmas trees come very close to exceeding nature. If some of our great decorated trees had been grown in a remote forest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/the-best-christmas-trees-come-very-close-to-exceeding-nature-if-some/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [Christmas is not a date. It is a state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ellen-chase/christmas-is-not-a-date-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Mary Ellen Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ellen-chase/) > [The best Christmas that l had was probably when I got my Xbox. When I first got an Xbox, it was, like, the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/the-best-christmas-that-l-had-was-probably-when-i-got-my-xbox-when-i/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [The rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/the-rooms-were-very-still-while-the-pages-were-softly-turned-and-the/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Christmas is the day, love is appreciated, gifts are exchange, all enemies becomes friends, living happily, experting only the best because christmas is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kings/christmas-is-the-day-love-is-appreciated-gifts-are-exchange-all/) [Chris Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kings/) > [When you have Christmas in your heart it doesnt matter whats under the tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-have-christmas-in-your-heart-it-doesnt-matter-whats-under/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Have you any old grudges you would like to pay, Any wrongs laid up from a bygone day? -Gather them now and lay them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-haines-lytle/have-you-any-old-grudges-you-would-like-to-pay-any-wrongs-laid-up/) William Haines Lytle > [Christmas is for children. But it is for grown-ups too. Even if it is a headache, a chore, and nightmare, it is a period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/christmas-is-for-children-but-it-is-for-grown-ups-too-even-if-it-is-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 73 Best christmas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-christmas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have always thought of Christmas time... as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Dickens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-always-thought-of-christmas-time-as-a-good-time-a-kind/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best christmas" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-always-thought-of-christmas-time-as-a-good-time-a-kind/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/charles-dickens-34_best-christmas_i-have-always-thought-of-christmas-time_2811329.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/charles-dickens-34_best-christmas_i-have-always-thought-of-christmas-time_2811329.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/charles-dickens-34_best-christmas_i-have-always-thought-of-christmas-time_2811329.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have always thought of Christmas time... as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time.” — Charles Dickens", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "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": "Charles Dickens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have always thought of Christmas...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-always-thought-of-christmas-time-as-a-good-time-a-kind/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-always-thought-of-christmas-time-as-a-good-time-a-kind/#breadcrumb" }, { "@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 } } ] } ```