Many of his novels, with their recurrent theme of social reform, first appeared in magazines in serialised form, a popular format at the time. Unlike other authors who completed entire novels before serialisation, Dickens often created the episodes as they were being serialized. The practice lent his stories a particular rhythm, punctuated by cliffhangers to keep the public looking forward to the next installment. The continuing popularity of his novels and short stories is such that they have never gone out of print.

1. A day wasted on others is not wasted on one’s self.

2. A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.

3. Although a skillful flatterer is a most delightful companion if you have him all to yourself, his taste becomes very doubtful when he takes to complimenting other people.

4. An idea, like a ghost, must be spoken to a little before it will explain itself.

5. Charity begins at home, and justice begins next door.

6. Credit is a system whereby a person who can not pay gets another person who can not pay to guarantee that he can pay.

7. Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!

8. I never could have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one subject at a time.

9. If there were no bad people, there would be no good lawyers.

10. It opens the lungs, washes the countenance, exercises the eyes, and softens down the temper; so cry away.

11. 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 spring of hope, it was the winter of despair . . . in short, the period was so far like the present period.

12. Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own; and from morning to night, as from the cradle to the grave, it is but a succession of changes so gentle and easy that we can scarcely mark their progress.

13. No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else.

14. Subdue your appetites, my dears, and you’ve conquered human nature.

15. Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.

16. The civility which money will purchase, is rarely extended to those who have none.

17. The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.

18. The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists.

19. There is a wisdom of the head, and a wisdom of the heart.

20. Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers, and are fatuous preservers of youthful looks.

21. Whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do it well; whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself completely; in great aims and in small I have always thoroughly been in earnest.

1. A Christmas Carol
2. A Tale of Two Cities
3. Oliver Twist