---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I made a compact with myself that in my…"
description: "\"I made a compact with myself that in my person literature should stand by itself, of itself, and for itself.\" — Charles Dickens"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/charles-dickens-34_books_i-made-a-compact-with-myself-that-in-my_1071946.jpg"
---

#  I made a compact with myself that in my person literature…

![“I made a compact with myself that in my person literature should stand by itself, of itself, and for itself.” quote by Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/charles-dickens-34_books_i-made-a-compact-with-myself-that-in-my_1071946.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/charles-dickens-34_books_i-made-a-compact-with-myself-that-in-my_1071946.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b95/charles-dickens-34_books_i-made-a-compact-with-myself-that-in-my_1071946.jpg)

> “I made a compact with myself that in my person literature should stand by itself, of itself, and for itself.”

[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.

He believed literature must be self‑sufficient, valuable for its own sake without external justification.

**In simple terms:** Literature should stand alone.

Key Takeaway

Write for intrinsic worth.

Themes

literature self‑sufficiency artistic integrity

Mood

reflective introspective

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

- writing workshops
- literary criticism
- personal writing practice

Key Concepts

autonomy intrinsic value creative purity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can a work be both self‑sufficient and resonant?
- What value does external validation bring?

A Different Perspective

Self‑sufficiency may ignore audience relevance.

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