“The light, bold, fluttering little figure turned and came back safe to me, and I soon laughed at my fears, and at the cry I had uttered; fruitlessly in any case, for there was no one near. But there have been times since, in my manhood, many times there have been, when I have thought, is it possible, among the possibilities of hidden things, that in the sudden rashness of the child and her wild look so far off, there was any merciful attraction of her into danger, any tempting her towards him permitted on the part of her dead father, that her life might have a chance of ending that day. There has been a time since when I have wondered whether, if the life before her could have been revealed to me at a glance, and so revealed as that a child could fully comprehend it, and if her preservation could have depended on a motion of my hand, I ought to have held it up to save her. There has been a time since – I do not say it lasted long, but it has been – when I have asked myself the question, would it have been better for little Emily to have had the waters close above her head that morning in my sight; and when I have answered Yes, it would have been.”
Quote by Charles Dickens
Book:David Copperfield
Work
David Copperfield
David Copperfield is a semi-autobiographical novel by Charles Dickens, published in 1850. The story is narrated by the protagonist, David Copperfield, who recounts his life experiences, including his abusive stepfather, his time at school, his first love, and his career as a writer. The novel is renowned for its vivid portrayal of Victorian society and its exploration of themes such as resilience, love, and the struggle for social mobility. more
Author
You May Also Like
Source: Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy
“Mondays are like the first day in school — you have everything but confidence.”
Source: Tales of the Sibling Not-So-Grim
Source: Tales of the Sibling Not-So-Grim
Source: Zami: A New Spelling of My Name
Source: The Secret History
Source: The Souls of Black Folk
“Sixth grade you didn't survive just endured.”
Source: Brown: Poems
