Christmas is a poor excuse every 25th of December to pick a man's pockets.
Interpretation
The quote humorously suggests that Christmas is often commercialized rather than being about true generosity or celebration.
Charles Dickens' quote critiques the commercialization of Christmas, implying that the holiday has become an opportunity for greed, overshadowing its original intent of joy and giving. By describing it as a 'poor excuse,' Dickens highlights the irony of a season meant for goodwill being exploited for financial gain.
In practice
You might use this quote during a discussion on holiday spending habits.
I recollected one story there was in the village, how that on a certain night in the year (it might be that very night for anything I knew), all the dead people came out of the ground and sat at the heads of their own graves till morning.
A silent look of affection and regard when all other eyes are turned coldly away-the consciousness that we possess the sympathy and affection of one being when all others have deserted us-is a hold, a stay, a comfort, in the deepest affliction, which no wealth could purchase, or power bestow.
Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts. I was better after I had cried, than before--more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle.
There are not a few among the disciples of charity who require, in their vocation, scarcely less excitement than the votaries of pleasure in theirs.
You might, from your appearance, be the wife of Lucifer,” said Miss Pross, in her breathing. “Nevertheless, you shall not get the better of me. I am an Englishwoman.
And therefore, Uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that [Christmas] has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!
Congress consists of one-third, more or less, scoundrels; two-thirds, more or less, idiots; and three-thirds, more or less, poltroons.
I don't speak German well but several experts have assured me that I write it like an angel. Maybe so, maybe so- I don't know. I've not yet made any acquaintances among the angels. That comes later, whenever it please the Deity. I'm not in any hurry.
You know why dogs have no money? No pockets. 'Cause they see change on the street all the time and it's driving them crazy. When you're walking them, he is always looking up at you. "There's a quarter...."
Most of us spend the first six days of each week sowing wild oats; then we go to church on Sunday and pray for a crop failure.
I'm tired of wasting letters when punctuation will do, period.
He was a dreamer, a thinker, a speculative philosopher... or, as his wife would have it, an idiot.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.