Sadly, sadly, the sun rose; it rose upon no sadder…

Sadly, sadly, the sun rose; it rose upon no sadder sight than the man of good abilities and good emotions, incapable of their directed exercise, incapable of his own help and his own happiness, sensible of the blight on him, and resigning himself to let it eat him away.

Book II The Golden Thread, Chapter V - The Jackal

Other A Tale of Two Cities Quotes

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 epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way— in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. - View Quote Details on It was the best of times, it was the worst…
Liberty, equality, fraternity, or death;– the last, much the easiest to bestow, O Guillotine! - View Quote Details on Liberty, equality, fraternity, or death;– the last, much the easiest…
Repression is the only lasting philosophy. - View Quote Details on Repression is the only lasting philosophy.
I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss, and, in their struggles to be truly free, in their triumphs and defeats, through long long to come, I see the evil of this time and of the previous time of which this is the natural birth, gradually making expiation for itself and wearing out. - View Quote Details on I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising…
Deep ditch, single drawbridge, massive stone walls, eight great towers, cannon, muskets, fire and smoke. One drawbridge down! “Work, comrades all, work! Work, Jacques One, Jacques Two, Jacques One Thousand, Jacques Two Thousand; in the name of all the angels or the devils – which you prefer – work!” - View Quote Details on Deep ditch, single drawbridge, massive stone walls, eight great towers,…
Defarge, a weak minority interposed a few words for the memory of the compassionate wife of the Marquis; but only elicited from his own wife a repititon of her last reply. “Tell the Wind and the Fire where to stop; not me!” - View Quote Details on Defarge, a weak minority interposed a few words for the…
The Dover mail was in its usual genial position that the guard suspected the passengers, the passengers suspected one another and the guard, they all suspected everybody else, and the coachman was sure of nothing but the horses; as to which cattle he could with a clear conscience have taken his oath on the two Testaments that they were not fit for the journey. - View Quote Details on The Dover mail was in its usual genial position that…
I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts, and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence. I see her, an old woman, weeping for me on the anniversary of this day. I see her and her husband, their course done, lying side by side in their last earthly bed, and I know that each was not more honoured and held sacred in the other’s soul, than I was in the souls of both. - View Quote Details on I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts,…
I see that child who lay upon her bosom and who bore my name, a man winning his way up in that path of life which once was mine. I see him winning it so well, that my name is made illustrious there by the light of his. I see the blots I threw upon it, faded away. I see him, foremost of just judges and honoured men, bringing a boy of my name, with a forehead that I know and golden hair, to this place— then fair to look upon, with not a trace of this day’s disfigurement— and I hear him tell the child my story, with a tender and a faltering voice. - View Quote Details on I see that child who lay upon her bosom and…
Do you think that it will seem long to me, while I wait for her in the better land where I trust both you and I will be mercifully sheltered? - View Quote Details on Do you think that it will seem long to me,…