---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was only going to say,\" said Scrooge's…"
description: "\"“I was only going to say,\" said Scrooge's nephew, \"that the consequence of his taking a dislike to us, and not making merry with us, is, as I think, th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/charles-dickens-34_family-ties_i-was-only-going-to-say-said-scrooge-s-n_2987096.jpg"
---

#  I was only going to say," said Scrooge's nephew, "that the…

![“I was only going to say,&quot; said Scrooge's nephew, &quot;that the consequence of his taking a dislike to us, and not making merry with us, is, as I think, that he loses some pleasant moments, which could do him no harm. I am sure he loses pleasanter companions than he can find in his own thoughts, either…” quote by Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/charles-dickens-34_family-ties_i-was-only-going-to-say-said-scrooge-s-n_2987096.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/charles-dickens-34_family-ties_i-was-only-going-to-say-said-scrooge-s-n_2987096.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/charles-dickens-34_family-ties_i-was-only-going-to-say-said-scrooge-s-n_2987096.jpg)

> ““I was only going to say," said Scrooge's nephew, "that the consequence of his taking a dislike to us, and not making merry with us, is, as I think, that he loses some pleasant moments, which could do him no harm. I am sure he loses pleasanter companions than he can find in his own thoughts, either in his mouldy old office or his dusty chambers. I mean to give him the same chance every year, whether he likes it or not, for I pity him. He may rail at Christmas till he dies, but he can't help thinking better of it—I defy him—if he finds me going there in good temper, year after year, and saying, 'Uncle Scrooge, how are you?' If it only puts him in the vein to leave his poor clerk fifty pounds, that's something.””

[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.

Scrooge is urged to engage socially, as isolation deprives him of joy and companionship.

**In simple terms:** Social interaction brings joy and purpose.

Key Takeaway

Reach out to others during holidays.

Themes

community compassion holiday spirit

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

literary seasonal

When to use this quote

- family gatherings
- charitable acts
- workplace morale

Key Concepts

social isolation human connection

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we authentically connect with others?
- What small gestures improve others' holidays?

A Different Perspective

Forced socializing may feel insincere.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Family ties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-ties/) [Nephew Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nephew-consequence-4675649/) [Said Scrooge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-scrooge-1350435/) [Scrooge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scrooge/) [Scrooge Nephew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scrooge-nephew-2064446/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Uncle Scrooge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncle-scrooge-225918/)

## Related quotes

> [Christmas a humbug, uncle!" said Scrooge's nephew. "You don't mean that, I am sure?" "I do," said Scrooge. "Merry Christmas! What right have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/christmas-a-humbug-uncle-said-scrooge-s-nephew-you-don-t-mean-that-i/)

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

> [“If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Besides--excuse me--I don't know that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/if-they-would-rather-die-said-scrooge-they-had-better-do-it-and/)

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

> [“But soon the steeples called good people all, to church and chapel, and away they came, flocking through the streets in their best clothes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/but-soon-the-steeples-called-good-people-all-to-church-and-chapel-and/)

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

> [“Bah," said Scrooge, "Humbug.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/bah-said-scrooge-humbug/)

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

> [“It’s not convenient,” said Scrooge, “and it’s not fair. If I was to stop half-a-crown for it, you’d think yourself ill-used, I’ll be bound?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/it-s-not-convenient-said-scrooge-and-it-s-not-fair-if-i-was-to-stop/)

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

> [Out upon merry Christmas! What's Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/out-upon-merry-christmas-what-s-christmas-time-to-you-but-a-time-for/)

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

> [Uncle Scrooge preferred to let the poor die "and decrease the surplus population." Scrooge may not have had God on his side, but his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/uncle-scrooge-preferred-to-let-the-poor-die-and-decrease-the-surplus/)

[Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/)

> [“You are fettered," said Scrooge, trembling. "Tell me why?" "I wear the chain I forged in life," replied the Ghost. "I made it link…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/you-are-fettered-said-scrooge-trembling-tell-me-why-i-wear-the-chain/)

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

> [“I was afraid of anyone in a costume. A trip to see Santa might as well have been a trip to sit on Hitler's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/i-was-afraid-of-anyone-in-a-costume-a-trip-to-see-santa-might-as-well/)

[Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/)

> [Luckily for me, my father had impeccable taste. No contemporary collector was he. His treasure trove of comics included gems such as 'Little Lulu,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-kinney/luckily-for-me-my-father-had-impeccable-taste-no-contemporary/)

[Jeff Kinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-kinney/)

> [“In Hollywood, the real stars are all in animation. Alvin and the Chipmunks don't throw star fits, don't demand custom-designed Winnebagos, and are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/in-hollywood-the-real-stars-are-all-in-animation-alvin-and-the/)

[John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/)

> [“There was nothing of high mark in this. They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-was-nothing-of-high-mark-in-this-they-were-not-a-handsome/)

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

> [it's not my business," Scrooge returned. "It's enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people's. Mine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/it-s-not-my-business-scrooge-returned-it-s-enough-for-a-man-to/)

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

> [“External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/external-heat-and-cold-had-little-influence-on-scrooge-no-warmth/)

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

> [“It put out its strong hand as it spoke, and clasped him gently by the arm. “Rise! and walk with me!”It would have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/it-put-out-its-strong-hand-as-it-spoke-and-clasped-him-gently-by-the/)

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

## 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 Family ties quotes

> [“The folk of a Celtic type, whether pre-Celtic, Celtic, or Norse, have all spoken a Celtic language and exhibit the same old Celtic characteristics—vanity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-macculloch/the-folk-of-a-celtic-type-whether-pre-celtic-celtic-or-norse-have-all/)

[J.A. Macculloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-macculloch/)

> [“I went over to the narrow closet and picked out another outfit, glancing behind me to make sure Bones had shut the door before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-went-over-to-the-narrow-closet-and-picked-out-another-outfit/)

[Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/)

> [ If \[people\] place such things as friendship and family ties above their own productive work, yes, then they are immoral. Friendship, family life and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/if-people-place-such-things-as-friendship-and-family-ties-above-their/)

[Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/)

> [The shows I loved as a kid were 'The Brady Bunch,' 'Gilligan's Island,' 'What's Happening!!,' 'Who's The Boss,' 'WKRP in Cincinnati,' 'The Love Boat,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-grossman/the-shows-i-loved-as-a-kid-were-the-brady-bunch-gilligan-s-island/)

[Leslie Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-grossman/)

> [If, for instance, you put in a Malay officer who's very religious and who has family ties in Malaysia in charge of a machine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/if-for-instance-you-put-in-a-malay-officer-who-s-very-religious-and/)

[Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/)

> [“So what if you burned a few books? Those librarians deserve it. When we're older, maybe we'll burn it to the ground together." She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/so-what-if-you-burned-a-few-books-those-librarians-deserve-it-when-we/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [“Disneyland was one perfect answer. It provided, an almost sacred space where it is permissible and safe to let one's guard down, take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-le-mon/disneyland-was-one-perfect-answer-it-provided-an-almost-sacred-space/)

[Leslie Le Mon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-le-mon/)

> [I constantly write about my safety walking to and from school, and then I would come home at night, and I would cut on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/i-constantly-write-about-my-safety-walking-to-and-from-school-and/)

[Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/)

> [“I am sorry for him; I couldn't be angry with him if I tried. Who suffers by his ill whims? Himself always. Here he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-am-sorry-for-him-i-couldn-t-be-angry-with-him-if-i-tried-who/)

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

> [In my view, immigrants today aren't any different from immigrants who have come to America throughout our nation's history. They bring new ideas, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-armey/in-my-view-immigrants-today-aren-t-any-different-from-immigrants-who/)

[Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-armey/)

> [We have the bad habit, some of us, of looking back to a time - almost any time will do - when society was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/we-have-the-bad-habit-some-of-us-of-looking-back-to-a-time-almost-any/)

[Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/)

> [“Their concept of knowledge was eloquently expressed, for instance, by Muâdh b. Jabal (d. 18/639, one of the trusted lieutenants of the Prophet, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/their-concept-of-knowledge-was-eloquently-expressed-for-instance-by/)

[Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/)

> [“Jesus himself remains an enigma. There have been interesting attempts to uncover the figure of the ‘historical’ Jesus, a project that has become something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/jesus-himself-remains-an-enigma-there-have-been-interesting-attempts/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [“This book began with a vision I received one night planning a lesson for my Sunday school class at Family Ties at Peachtree Road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-cornett/this-book-began-with-a-vision-i-received-one-night-planning-a-lesson/)

[Bryant Cornett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-cornett/)

> [My whole life revolved around TV as a kid. I would come home and make sure I finished my homework every night by 8…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/my-whole-life-revolved-around-tv-as-a-kid-i-would-come-home-and-make/)

[Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/)

[Browse all 79 Family ties quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-ties/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I was only going to say,\" said Scrooge's nephew, \"that the consequence of his taking a dislike to us, and not making merry with us, is, as I think, that he loses some pleasant moments, which could do him no harm. I am sure he loses pleasanter companions than he can find in his own thoughts, either in his mouldy old office or his dusty chambers. I mean to give him the same chance every year, whether he likes it or not, for I pity him. He may rail at Christmas till he dies, but he can't help thinking better of it—I defy him—if he finds me going there in good temper, year after year, and saying, 'Uncle Scrooge, how are you?' If it only puts him in the vein to leave his poor clerk fifty pounds, that's something.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles Dickens"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-was-only-going-to-say-said-scrooge-s-nephew-that-the-consequence-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Family ties"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-was-only-going-to-say-said-scrooge-s-nephew-that-the-consequence-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/charles-dickens-34_family-ties_i-was-only-going-to-say-said-scrooge-s-n_2987096.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/charles-dickens-34_family-ties_i-was-only-going-to-say-said-scrooge-s-n_2987096.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/charles-dickens-34_family-ties_i-was-only-going-to-say-said-scrooge-s-n_2987096.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I was only going to say,\" said Scrooge's nephew, \"that the consequence of his taking a dislike to us, and…” — 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 was only going to say,\"...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-was-only-going-to-say-said-scrooge-s-nephew-that-the-consequence-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-was-only-going-to-say-said-scrooge-s-nephew-that-the-consequence-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
