---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I heard Thackeray thank Heaven for the…"
description: "\"I heard Thackeray thank Heaven for the purity of Dickens. I thanked Heaven for the purity of a greater than Dickens - Thackeray himself.\" — Goldwin Smith"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/goldwin-smith-17422_dickens_i-heard-thackeray-thank-heaven-for-the-p_2509918.jpg"
---

#  I heard Thackeray thank Heaven for the purity of Dickens…

![“I heard Thackeray thank Heaven for the purity of Dickens. I thanked Heaven for the purity of a greater than Dickens - Thackeray himself.” quote by Goldwin Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/goldwin-smith-17422_dickens_i-heard-thackeray-thank-heaven-for-the-p_2509918.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/goldwin-smith-17422_dickens_i-heard-thackeray-thank-heaven-for-the-p_2509918.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/goldwin-smith-17422_dickens_i-heard-thackeray-thank-heaven-for-the-p_2509918.jpg)

> “I heard Thackeray thank Heaven for the purity of Dickens. I thanked Heaven for the purity of a greater than Dickens - Thackeray himself.”

[Goldwin Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldwin-smith/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Thackeray praised Dickens’ purity; I value Thackeray’s even greater purity.

**In simple terms:** I admire Thackeray’s purity above Dickens’.

Key Takeaway

Recognize deeper literary merit.

Themes

literature criticism purity

Mood

analytical reflective

Type

critical philosophical

When to use this quote

- reading clubs
- academic courses
- writing workshops

Key Concepts

aesthetics comparative analysis authorial intent

Questions to Reflect On

- What criteria define literary purity for you?
- How does personal bias affect literary judgment?

A Different Perspective

Comparisons may overlook each author’s unique context.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dickens/) [Dickens Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dickens-thackeray-1145175/) [Dickens Thanked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dickens-thanked-1145174/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Himself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/himself/) [Purity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purity/) [Purity Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purity-dickens-1145173/) [Thackeray Thank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thackeray-thank-1145172/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Thank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thank/) [Thanked Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanked-heaven-1145171/)

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