All other swindlers upon earth are nothing to the self-swindlers, and with such pretences did I cheat myself. Surely a curious thing. That I should innocently take a bad half-crown of somebody else's manufacture, is reasonable enough; but that I should knowingly reckon the spurious coin of my own make, as good money!
Interpretation
The quote reflects the concept of self-deception and the complexity of personal accountability.
Charles Dickens highlights the ironic nature of self-swindling, where one can deceive oneself more profoundly than being deceived by others. The quote suggests that it's not just the external frauds that are harmful, but the internal fraud of believing in our own misconceptions and lies, which can lead to a more significant personal downfall.
In practice
During a philosophical discussion about integrity, one might quote this 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.
When two or more people agree on an issue, I form on the other side.
For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail?
The right of nature... is the liberty each man hath to use his own power, as he will himself, for the preservation of his own nature; that is to say, of his own life.
What we call luck is the inner man externalized. We make things happen to us.
People who have a religion should be glad, for not everyone has the gift of believing in heavenly things.
When the first living thing existed, I was there waiting. When the last living thing dies, my job will be finished. I'll put the chairs on the tables, turn out the lights and lock the universe behind me when I leave.
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