Charles Dickens Quotes About Affection

• I know that she deserves the best and purest love the heart of man can offer," said Mrs. Maylie; "I know that the devotion and affection of her nature require no ordinary return, but one that shall be deep and lasting.

  Charles Dickens

  Heart, Men, Return

  Charles Dickens (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Charles Dickens (Illustrated)”, p.1035, Delphi Classics

• Time was with most of us, when Christmas Day, encircling all our limited world like a magic ring, left nothing out for us to miss or seek; bound together all our home enjoyments, affections, and hopes; grouped everything and everyone round the Christmas fire, and make the little picture shining in our bright young eyes, complete.

  Charles Dickens

  Christmas, Eye, Home

  Charles Dickens (2003). “A Christmas Carol”, p.182, Broadview Press

• A silent look of affection and regard when all other eyes are turned coldly away-the consciousness that we possess the sympathy and affection of one being when all others have deserted us-is a hold, a stay, a comfort, in the deepest affliction, which no wealth could purchase, or power bestow.

  Charles Dickens

  Love, Sympathy, Eye

  Charles Dickens (1866). “Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club”, p.296

• Many merry Christmases, many happy New Years. Unbroken friendships, great accumulations of cheerful recollections and affections on earth, and heaven for us all.

  Charles Dickens

  Friendship, Christmas, New Year

• If ever household affections and loves are graceful things, they are graceful in the poor. The ties that bind the wealthy and the proud to home may be forged on earth, but those which link the poor man to his humble hearth are of the true metal and bear the stamp of heaven.

  Charles Dickens

  Inspirational, Home, Humble

  Charles Dickens (1841). “The Old Curiosity Shop”, p.2, B Times

• ... the woman who grows up with the idea that she is simply to be an amiable animal, to be caressed and coaxed, is invariably a bitterly disappointed woman. A game of chess will cure such a conceit forever. The woman that knows the most, thinks the most, feels the most, is the most. Intellectual affection is the only lasting love. Love that has a game of chess in it can checkmate any man and solve the problem of life.

  Charles Dickens

  Growing Up, Women, Thinking

• "Mine ain't a selfish affection, you know," said Mr. Toots, in the confidence engendered by his having been a witness of the Captain's tenderness. "It's the sort of thing with me, Captain Gills, that if I could be run over - or - or trampled upon - or - or thrown off a very high place -or anything of that sort - for Miss Dombey's sake, it would be the most delightful thing that could happen to me."

  Charles Dickens

  Love, Running, Selfish

  Charles Dickens (1890*). “Works”

• If you could see my legs when I take my boots off, you'd form some idea of what unrequited affection is.

  Charles Dickens

  Funny, Humorous, Ideas

  'Dombey and Son' (1848) ch. 48 (Mr Toots)

• ... Natural affections and instincts, my dear sir, are the most beautiful of the Almighty's works, but like other beautiful works of His, they must be reared and fostered, or it is as natural that they should be wholly obscured, and that new feelings should usurp their place, as it is that the sweetest productions of the earth, left untended, should be choked with weeds and briers.

  Charles Dickens

  Beautiful, Weed, Feelings

  Charles Dickens (1866). “Works: ¬The life and adventures of Nicholas Nickleby ; 2”, p.186

• Some philosophers tell us that selfishness is at the root of our best loves and affections. Mr. Dombey's young child was, from the beginning, so distinctly important to him as a part of his own greatness, or (which is the same thing) of the greatness of Dombey and Son, that there is no doubt his parental affection might have been easily traced, like many a goodly superstructure of fair fame, to a very low foundation.

  Charles Dickens

  Best Love, Children, Son

  Charles Dickens (1858). “Dombey and Son ... With frontispiece by H. K. Browne”, p.57

• [S]he stood for some moments gazing at the sisters, with affection beaming in one eye, and calculation shining out of the other.

  Charles Dickens

  Eye, Hypocrisy, Shining

  Martin Chuzzlewit ch. 8 (1844)

• The persons on whom I have bestowed my dearest love lie deep in their graves; but, although the happiness and delight of my life lie buried there too, I have not made a coffin of my heart, and sealed it up for ever on my best affections. Deep affliction has only made them stronger; it ought, I think, for it should refine our nature.

  Charles Dickens

  Lying, Heart, Thinking

  Charles Dickens (1839). “Oliver Twist”, p.221

• O, if the deeds of human creatures could be traced to their source, how beautiful would even death appear; for how much charity, mercy, and purified affection would be seen to have their growth in dusty graves!

  Charles Dickens

  Beautiful, Death, Growth

  Charles Dickens (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Charles Dickens (Illustrated)”, p.2302, Delphi Classics

• Without strong affection, and humanity of heart, and gratitude to that Being whose code is mercy, and whose great attribute is benevolence to all things that breathe, true happiness can never be attained.

  Charles Dickens

  Happiness, Gratitude, Strong

  Charles Dickens (1839). “Oliver Twist; Or, the Parish Boy's Progress”, p.364

• Our affections, however laudable, in this transitory world, should never master us; we should guide them, guide them.

  Charles Dickens

  World, Affection, Guides

  Charles Dickens (1868). “The Works of Charles Dickens ...: The mystery of Edwin Drood and Master Humphrey's clock”, p.9

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