“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor

THE BEGINNING 7 February 1812 CHARLES DICKENS

CHARLES DICKENS BICENTENARY February 2012

1837-1839 “There are books of which the backs and covers are by far the best parts.” 

1838-1839 “Happiness is a gift and the trick is not to expect it,  but to delight in it when it comes” 

1843 “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour”

1849-1850 “The most important thing in life is to stop saying 'I wish' and start saying 'I will.' Consider nothing impossible, then treat possiblities as probabilities.” 

1852-1853 "A word in earnest is as good as a speech."

1854 “There is a wisdom of the head, and... there is a wisdom of the heart.” 

1859 “There is prodigious strength in sorrow and despair.” 

1860-1861 “Spring is the time of year when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade.” 

1865 "This reminds me, Godmother, to ask you a serious question. You are as wise as wise can be (having been brought up by the fairies), and you can tell me this: Is it better to have had a good thing and lost it, or never to have had it?"

1870 “Stranger, pause and ask yourself the question, can´t you do likewise? If not, with a blush retire”

 9 June 1870