“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
“A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.”
“There is prodigious strength in sorrow and despair.”
“I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss, and, in their struggles to be truly free, in their triumphs and defeats, through long years to come, I see the evil of this time and of the previous time.”
“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”
“Crush humanity out of shape once more, under similar hammers, and it will twist itself into the same tortured forms.”
“Please, sir, I want some more.”
“If they knew how hard it was to bring up a child, they’d be kinder to us poor orphans.”
“The evidence of the poor creature’s misery came too late.”
“I wish you to know that you have inspired me with the greatest disgust and contempt.”
“There are books of which the backs and covers are by far the best parts.”
“Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be.”
“We need never be ashamed of our tears.”
“Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.”
“Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There’s no better rule.”
“I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.”
“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”
“No space of regret can make amends for one life’s opportunity misused.”
“I wear the chain I forged in life.”
“Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business.”