It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
These are the opening words of the novel, which is set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. Dickens first published it in weekly instalments in his magazine All the Year Round, from April to November 1859.
I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
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.
Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts.
All the world’s a stage, / And all the men and women merely players;
Because I could not stop for Death – / He kindly stopped for me –
Break, break, break, / On thy cold gray stones, O Sea! / And I would that my tongue could utter / The thoughts that arise in me.