“ No one is useless in this world . . . who lightens the burden of it for any one else. ”
Charles Dickens, Our Mutual Friend (1865). copy citation
| Author | Charles Dickens |
|---|---|
| Source | Our Mutual Friend |
| Topic | burden utility helping |
| Date | 1865 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/883/883-h/883-h.htm |
Context
“'I shall be happy, Mr Rokesmith,' returned Bella, 'to be of the least use; for I feel, after the serious scene of to-day, that I am useless enough in this world.'
'Don't say that,' urged the Secretary.
'Oh, but I mean that,' said Bella, raising her eyebrows.
'No one is useless in this world,' retorted the Secretary, 'who lightens the burden of it for any one else.'
'But I assure you I don't, Mr Rokesmith,' said Bella, half-crying.
'Not for your father?'
'Dear, loving, self-forgetting, easily-satisfied Pa! Oh, yes! He thinks so.'
'It is enough if he only thinks so,' said the Secretary.” source
'Don't say that,' urged the Secretary.
'Oh, but I mean that,' said Bella, raising her eyebrows.
'No one is useless in this world,' retorted the Secretary, 'who lightens the burden of it for any one else.'
'But I assure you I don't, Mr Rokesmith,' said Bella, half-crying.
'Not for your father?'
'Dear, loving, self-forgetting, easily-satisfied Pa! Oh, yes! He thinks so.'
'It is enough if he only thinks so,' said the Secretary.” source
Meaning and analysis
