I want to escape from myself. For when I do start up and stare myself seedily in the face, as happens to be my case at present, my blankness is inconceivable--indescribable--my misery amazing.
Interpretation
The quote expresses a deep internal struggle and a desire to escape from one's own misery and emptiness.
In this quote, Charles Dickens conveys a profound sense of despair and self-reflection. The speaker feels overwhelmed by their own existence, grappling with an indescribable blankness that reflects their inner turmoil. This desire to escape from oneself highlights the challenges of confronting personal pain, suggesting that self-awareness can sometimes bring forth a harsh reality that is difficult to bear.
In practice
In a motivational speech about overcoming adversity, one could reference this quote to emphasize the importance of self-awareness.
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.
Christmas is a poor excuse every 25th of December to pick a man's pockets.
I foresee a great funeral contest over me.
When a condition or a problem becomes too great, humans have the protection of not thinking about it. But it goes inward and minces up with a lot of other things already there and what comes out is discontent and uneasiness, guilt and a compulsion to get something--anything--before it is all gone.
Apply yourself to solitude. One who is given to solitude knows things as they really are.
Poor intricated soul! Riddling, perplexed, labyrinthical soul!
A well governed appetite is the greater part of liberty.
You either have commercial pressure or ideological pressure. I prefer commercial pressure; otherwise, you can be at the mercy of one or two idiots.
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