Our Mutual Friend

by Charles Dickens

But he is only stunned by the unvanquishable difficulty of his existence.

No one who can read, ever looks at a book, even unopened on a shelf, like one who cannot.

There appeared to be no line of demarcation between the young person's excessive innocence, and another person's guiltiest knowledge.

Was he prejudiced against the race of lawyers?

A little pincushion, a little housewife, a little book, a little workbox, a little set of tables and weights and measures, and a little woman, all in one.

No, no, no. Compliments only make me hold my tongue the more.'

I don't pretend to know how the point of law may stand, but I'm thoroughly confident upon the point of fact.'

It was an edifying spectacle, the young man in his easy chair taking his coffee, and the old man with his grey head bent, standing awaiting his pleasure.

I am generally short and sweet—or short and sour, according as it may be and as opinions vary—'

Promise me, my child, not a little man. Never, never, never, marry a little man!"

they take the worst of us as samples of the best; they take the lowest of us as presentations of the highest; and they say "All Jews are alike."

You are going to try matrimony. I mean to try travelling.'

The feelings of a gentleman I hold sacred, and I confess I am not comfortable when they are made the subject of sport or general discussion.'