Let us be moral. Let us contemplate existence.

Quotes

Chapter 9.

Other Martin Chuzzlewit Quotes

Oh, Sairey, Sairey, little do we know what lays before us! - View Quote Details on Oh, Sairey, Sairey, little do we know what lays before…
Firstly, that it may be safely asserted, and yet without implying any direct participation in the Manboddo doctrine touching the probability of the human race having once been monkeys, that men do play very strange and extraordinary tricks. Secondly, and yet without trenching on the Blumenbach theory as to the descendants of Adam having a vast number of qualities which belong more particularly to swine than to any other class of animals in the creation, that some men certainly are remarkable for taking uncommon good care of themselves. - View Quote Details on Firstly, that it may be safely asserted, and yet without…
Regrets,” said Martin, “are the natural property of grey hairs; and I enjoy, in common with all other men, at least my share of such inheritance. - View Quote Details on Regrets,” said Martin, “are the natural property of grey hairs;…
Dollars! All their cares, hopes, joys, affections, virtues, and associations seemed to be melted down into dollars. Whatever the chance contributions that fell into the slow cauldron of their talk, they made the gruel thick and slab with dollars. Men were weighed by their dollars, measures were gauged by their dollars; life was auctioneered, appraised, put up, and knocked down for its dollars. The next respectable thing to dollars was any venture having their attainment for its end. The more of that worthless ballast, honour and fair-dealing, which any man cast overboard from the ship of his Good Nature and Good Intent, the more ample stowage-room he had for dollars. Make commerce one huge lie and mighty theft. Deface the banner of the nation for an idle rag; pollute it star by star; and cut out stripe by stripe as from the arm of a degraded soldier. Do anything for dollars! What is a flag to them! - View Quote Details on Dollars! All their cares, hopes, joys, affections, virtues, and associations…
If its individual citizens, to a man, are to be believed, it always is depressed, and always is stagnated, and always is at an alarming crisis, and never was otherwise; though as a body, they are ready to make oath upon the Evangelists, at any hour of the day or night, that it is the most thriving and prosperous of all countries on the habitable globe. - View Quote Details on If its individual citizens, to a man, are to be…
Here’s the rule for bargains — ‘Do other men, for they would do you.’ That’s the true business precept. - View Quote Details on Here’s the rule for bargains — ‘Do other men, for…
But charity begins at home, and justice begins next door. - View Quote Details on But charity begins at home, and justice begins next door.
Leave the bottle on the chimley-piece, and don’t ask me to take none, but let me put my lips to it when I am so dispoged, and then I will do what I’m engaged to do, according to the best of my ability. - View Quote Details on Leave the bottle on the chimley-piece, and don’t ask me…
There might be some credit in being jolly with a wife. - View Quote Details on There might be some credit in being jolly with a…
What is exaggeration to one class of minds and perceptions, is plain truth to another. That which is commonly called a long–sight, perceives in a prospect innumerable features and bearings non–existent to a short–sighted person. I sometimes ask myself whether there may occasionally be a difference of this kind between some writers and some readers; whether it is ALWAYS the writer who colours highly, or whether it is now and then the reader whose eye for colour is a little dull? - View Quote Details on What is exaggeration to one class of minds and perceptions,…