Charles Dickens

The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.

Constancy in love is a good thing; but it means nothing, and is nothing, without constancy in every kind of effort.

My meaning simply is, that whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do well; that whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself to completely; that in great aims and in small, I have always been thoroughly in earnest.

A day wasted on others is not wasted on one’s self.

Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts. I was better after I had cried, than before–more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle.

Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.

I want to be all used up when I die.

To hold a pen is to be at war.

There is only one good – knowledge; and only one evil – ignorance.

The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us.

Few sinners are saved after the first twenty minutes of a sermon.

Politics is the gizzard of society, full of gut and gravel.

Property is organized robbery.

So far is it from being true that men are naturally equal, that no two people can be half an hour together, but one shall acquire an evident superiority over the other.

Virtue is like a rich stone, best plain set.

Defeat in itself was part and parcel of the great gambling game of politics. A man who could not accept it and try again was not of the stuff of which leaders are made.

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.

Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.

Solitary trees, if they grow at all, grow strong.

Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.

Studies serve for delight, for ornaments, and for ability.