"It is a pleasant thing to reflect upon, and furnishes a complete answer to those who contend for the gradual degeneration of the human species, that every baby born into the world is a finer one than the last."

Dickens, Charles on babies   

"Here's the rule for bargains: Do other men, for they would do you. That's the true business precept."

Dickens, Charles on bargains   

"There are only two styles of portrait painting; the serious and the smirk."

Dickens, Charles on portraits   

This quotation can be viewed in the context of a book

"To be shelterless and alone in the open country, hearing the wind moan and watching for day through the whole long weary night; to listen to the falling rain, and crouch for warmth beneath the lee of some old barn or rick, or in the hollow of a tree; are dismal things -- but not so dismal as the wandering up and down where shelter is, and beds and sleepers are by thousands; a houseless rejected creature."

Dickens, Charles on poverty and the poor   

"A man in public life expects to be sneered at -- it is the fault of his elevated situation, and not of himself."

Dickens, Charles on public   

"Regrets are the natural property of gray hairs."

Dickens, Charles on regret   

"I believe no satirist could breathe this air. If another Juvenal or Swift could rise up among us tomorrow, he would be hunted down. If you have any knowledge of our literature, and can give me the name of any man, American born and bred, who has anatomized our follies as a people, and not as this or that party; and who has escaped the foulest and most brutal slander, the most inveterate hatred and intolerant pursuit; it will be a strange name in my ears, believe me."

Dickens, Charles on sarcasm   

"Minerva House was a finishing establishment for young ladies, where some twenty girls of the ages from thirteen to nineteen inclusive, acquired a smattering of everything and a knowledge of nothing."

Dickens, Charles on school   

"A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other."

Dickens, Charles on secrets
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"There are books of which the backs and covers are by far the best parts."

Dickens, Charles on books - reading
3 fans of this quote   

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"I am quite serious when I say that I do not believe there are, on the whole earth besides, so many intensified bores as in these United States. No man can form an adequate idea of the real meaning of the word, without coming here."

Dickens, Charles on bores and boredom   

"I never see any difference in boys. I only know two sorts of boys. Mealy boys and beef-faced boys."

Dickens, Charles on boys   

"Industry is the soul of business and the keystone of prosperity."

Dickens, Charles on business   

"Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own; and from morning to night, as from the cradle to the grave, it is but a succession of changes so gentle and easy that we can scarcely mark their progress."

Dickens, Charles on change
4 fans of this quote   

"Change begets change. Nothing propagates so fast. If a man habituated to a narrow circle of cares and pleasures, out of which he seldom travels, step beyond it, though for never so brief a space, his departure from the monotonous scene on which he has been an actor of importance would seem to be the signal for instant confusion. The mine which Time has slowly dug beneath familiar objects is sprung in an instant; and what was rock before, becomes but sand and dust."

Dickens, Charles on change
3 fans of this quote   

"Charity begins at home, and justice begins next door."

Dickens, Charles on charity
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"Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers and are famous preservers of youthful looks."

Dickens, Charles on cheerfulness   

"I feel an earnest and humble desire, and shall till I die, to increase the stock of harmless cheerfulness."

Dickens, Charles on cheerfulness   

"A lady of what is commonly called an uncertain temper -- a phrase which being interpreted signifies a temper tolerably certain to make everybody more or less uncomfortable."

Dickens, Charles on temper
3 fans of this quote   

"A day wasted on others is not wasted on one's self."

Dickens, Charles on time
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"There is nothing so strong or safe in an emergency of life as the simple truth."

Dickens, Charles on truth   

"We know, Mr. Weller -- we, who are men of the world -- that a good uniform must work its way with the women, sooner or later."

Dickens, Charles on uniforms   

"Vices are sometimes only virtues carried to excess!"

Dickens, Charles on vice   

This quotation can be viewed in the context of a book

"I have known a vast quantity of nonsense talked about bad men not looking you in the face. Don't trust that conventional idea. Dishonesty will stare honesty out of countenance any day in the week, if there is anything to be got by it."

Dickens, Charles on villains
5 fans of this quote   

This quotation can be viewed in the context of a book

"Take example by your father, my boy, and be very careful of vidders all your life, specially if they've kept a public house, Sammy."

Dickens, Charles on widowhood   

"It's my old girl that advises. She has the head. But I never own to it before her. Discipline must be maintained."

Dickens, Charles on wives   

"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another."

Dickens, Charles on worth
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"A boy's story is the best that is ever told."

Dickens, Charles on youth
4 fans of this quote   

"Electric communication will never be a substitute for the face of someone who with their soul encourages another person to be brave and true."

Dickens, Charles on communication
4 fans of this quote   

"Fan the sinking flame of hilarity with the wing of friendship; and pass the rosy wine."

Dickens, Charles on company
4 fans of this quote   

"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 subject at a time..."

Dickens, Charles on concentration   

"The whole difference between construction and creation is this; that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists."

Dickens, Charles on creativity
4 fans of this quote   

"A person who can't pay gets another person who can't pay to guarantee that he can pay. Like a person with two wooden legs getting another person with two wooden legs to guarantee that he has got two natural legs. It don't make either of them able to do a walking-match."

Dickens, Charles on credit   

"It opens the lungs, washes the countenance, exercises the eyes, and softens down the temper; so cry away."

Dickens, Charles on cries and crying
6 fans of this quote   

"He would make a lovely corpse."

Dickens, Charles on death   

"Neither in this world nor elsewhere is there any happiness in store for him who always doubts."

Bhagavad Gita on doubt
16 fans of this quote   

"On this path effort never goes to waste, and there is no failure. Even a little effort toward spiritual awareness will protect you from the greatest fear."

Bhagavad Gita on failure
15 fans of this quote   

"When the senses contact sense objects, a person experiences cold or heat, pleasure or pain. These experiences are fleeting they come and go. Bear them patiently."

Bhagavad Gita on feelings
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"Governing sense, mind and intellect, intent on liberation, free from desire, fear and anger, the sage is forever free."

Bhagavad Gita on freedom
4 fans of this quote   

"Whatever I am offered in devotion with a pure heart -- a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water -- I accept with joy."

Bhagavad Gita on gratitude
11 fans of this quote