Charles Dickens’ novel, Bleak House, is a timeless classic that explores themes of justice, love, and social inequality. Set in 19th-century England, the story follows the lives of various characters as they navigate through a complex web of secrets, mysteries, and legal battles. One of the notable aspects of this novel is the profound and thought-provoking quotes that can be found throughout its pages. These quotes offer insights into the human condition and provide a deeper understanding of the story’s themes. In this article, we have compiled a list of some of the most memorable Bleak House quotes.
Whether you are a fan of Charles Dickens or simply seeking inspiration, these quotes will resonate with you. They capture the essence of the characters and the social climate of the time. From poignant reflections on love and loss to biting critiques of the legal system, these quotes are sure to leave a lasting impression.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the world of Bleak House and discover the wisdom hidden within its pages.
Read these Bleak House Quotes
“It’s a bad job. It’s a bad job, and the less you say about it, the better.”
“I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free. Mankind will surely not deny to Harold Skimpole what it concedes to the butterflies!”
“Dead, your Majesty. Dead, my lords and gentlemen. Dead, Right Reverends and Wrong Reverends of every order. Dead, men and women, born with Heavenly compassion in your hearts. And dying thus around us every day.”
“There are many pleasant fictions of the law in constant operation, but there is not one so pleasant or practically humorous as that which supposes every man to be of equal value in its impartial eye, and the benefits of all laws to be equally attainable by all men, without the smallest reference to the furniture of their pockets.”
“Jarndyce and Jarndyce drones on. This scarecrow of a suit has, in course of time, become so complicated that no man alive knows what it means. The parties to it understand it least, but it has been observed that no two Chancery lawyers can talk about it for five minutes without coming to a total disagreement as to all the premises.”
“I’ll tell you what real love is. It is blind devotion, unquestioning self-humiliation, utter submission, trust, and belief against yourself and against the whole world, giving up your whole heart and soul to the smiter.”
“The wind is rushing after us, and the clouds are flying after us, and the moon is plunging after us, and the whole wild night is in pursuit of us; but, so far, we are pursued by nothing else.”
“Tea? Thank you. Sugar? Thank you. Bread and butter? Thank you. Cold tongue? Thank you. Bless you!”
“I have been so much accustomed to the thought of myself as a lone creature, that I cannot imagine.”
“There is a wisdom of the head, and… there is a wisdom of the heart.”
“All children, except one, grow up.”
“I don’t know that I can forgive her, but I am sure that you and your husband can.”
“If I may so express it, I was steeped in Dora. I was not merely over head and ears in love with her, but I was saturated through and through.”
“Love, though said to be afflicted with blindness, is a vigilant watchman.”
“We have all some experience of a feeling, that comes over us occasionally, of what we are saying and doing having been said and done before, in a remote time.”
“There is a great deal of pathos, too, in the gradual decay of his mind. But it is all for the best. Good night!”
“I have heard it said that the elder Mr. Turveydrop is not likely to live.”
“I am not so unreasonable as to expect,” said Mr. Skimpole, “that you young men should ride horses to-day and kill them to-morrow, but that is what you would do.”
“It is a most miserable thing to feel ashamed of home. There may be black ingratitude in the thing, and the punishment may be retributive and well deserved; but, that it is a miserable thing, I can testify.”
“But the wind slides eastward over its darkening mirror, and the birds are quiet, and the fowls go to roost in peace.”
“I think it must be somewhere,” said I. “I will ask the next man I meet with a wooden leg, who may be supposed to have a general knowledge of the locality.”
These quotes from Bleak House provide a glimpse into the rich tapestry of emotions and ideas that Charles Dickens weaves throughout the novel. They serve as a reminder of the enduring power of literature to capture the essence of the human experience. Whether you are a fan of classic literature or simply looking for some inspiration, these quotes are sure to leave a lasting impression.
So, immerse yourself in the world of Bleak House and let these quotes transport you to a bygone era filled with love, loss, and the pursuit of justice.
