"But you were always a good man of business, Jacob," faltered Scrooge, who now began to apply this to himself.
"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"
¶ A Christmas Carol (1843)
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.
¶ A Tale of Two Cities, ch. 1 (1859)
I say, David, to the young this is a world for action, and not for moping and droning in.
¶ David Copperfield, ch. 10 (Mr. Murdstone) (1850)
Reflect on your present blessings, of which every man has many; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
¶ The Adventures of Oliver Twist (1838)
My life is one demd horrid grind.
¶ The Life And Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, ch. 64 (Mr Mantalini) (1839)