Lessons from a Literary Giant on the Soul of Education

Charles Dickens, the master storyteller of Victorian England, is remembered for his unforgettable characters and cutting social commentary. Yet behind his tales of orphans, schoolmasters, and social reform lies a deeply personal truth: Dickens was a child of interrupted schooling, forced labor, and bitter disappointment.

Born in 1812 into a working-class family, Dickens had a brief period of formal education before his father was imprisoned for debt. At just 12 years old, Charles was sent to work in a boot-blacking factory, pasting labels on bottles in squalid conditions. The experience, which he described as one of "despair and shame," left a lasting scar—and a burning conviction that society had failed its children.

When he eventually returned to school, Dickens found a rigid and unimaginative system where creativity was stifled, and punishment reigned.

Charles Dickens literary mastery emerged from a unique combination of personal hardship, voracious reading, theatrical experience, journalistic training, and an extraordinary ear for rhythm and dialogue. His formative years shaped not only his fierce advocacy for social justice but also his view that education must be more than the cold delivery of facts. It must nurture human dignity, imagination, and the spirit of the child.

Were Dickens alive today, walking the corridors of modern classrooms, witnessing both innovation and inequality, what would he say to teachers? What truths would he share, drawn from his own wounds and hopes?

Here are 10 quotes from Dickens, each followed by reflections for today’s educators.

1. "There is a wisdom of the head, and... a wisdom of the heart."

(Hard Times, 1854)

This quote comes from a novel in which Dickens satirizes an education system built purely on logic and rote memorization. Mr. Gradgrind, the infamous schoolmaster, demands "Facts, facts, facts!"—with no room for curiosity, empathy, or wonder.

Today’s educators can take this as a warning: the heart matters as much as the head. True learning balances intellect with emotional intelligence, creativity, and a deep sense of purpose.

2. "Train them to be polite and considerate, and then let them go their own way."

(Great Expectations, 1861)

Dickens believed in shaping character, not conformity. His characters often wrestle with social expectation and inner morality. Pip, for instance, learns that goodness lies not in wealth or status, but in kindness and humility.

For teachers, this is an invitation to foster independence and ethical awareness, not simply performance. The goal is not to manufacture identical achievers, but to cultivate thoughtful, caring individuals.

3. "It is a melancholy truth that even great men have their poor relations."

(Our Mutual Friend, 1865)

This line hints at Dickens’s constant awareness of inequality—especially in education. He saw how the wealthy could afford tutors, libraries, and schools, while the poor were left behind or criminalized for their ignorance.

Teachers today still grapple with this disparity. Dickens might urge them to be conscious of systemic injustice and to use the classroom as a space of equal opportunity, where every child has the right to learn and be seen.

4. "No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it for anyone else."

(From a letter)

Dickens's stories often focus on marginalized figures—street children, debtors, the mentally ill—and the quiet heroes who offer them compassion. He knew firsthand what it was to feel abandoned by the system.

To educators, this is a reminder of the power of small kindnesses. A teacher’s belief in a struggling student, a word of encouragement, or an act of patience can change the course of a life.

5. "A loving heart is the truest wisdom."

(David Copperfield, 1850)

David Copperfield was Dickens’s most autobiographical novel. In it, he reflects on the pain of his boyhood, the cruelty of harsh schoolmasters, and the healing presence of those who showed him care.

For teachers, this is more than a moral sentiment; it’s a practical principle. Children thrive not under fear but under love and respect. The best classrooms are places where young people feel safe enough to take intellectual and emotional risks.

6. "The sun himself is weak when he first rises, and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on."

(The Old Curiosity Shop, 1841)

A poetic image of resilience and growth, this quote speaks directly to the journey of many learners.

In the classroom, where expectations and competition can be overwhelming, this reminds teachers that each student has their own pace. With the right support, even those who stumble early may shine brightest later on.

7. "The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists."

(Household Words, 1850)

This profound reflection touches on the heart of teaching. Educators must see the potential in their students—before any achievement is visible.

Teachers, like artists or gardeners, love what they help to bring into being. Believing in a child’s worth before it manifests externally can be the fuel that helps it come alive.

8. "Charity begins at home, and justice begins next door."

(Martin Chuzzlewit, 1844)

Dickens saw how charity was sometimes used to soothe guilt without addressing root problems. In education, goodwill alone is not enough—equity and justice must shape decisions around funding, curriculum, and support.

Educators can draw strength from this: kindness should be paired with advocacy. To teach is also to challenge what is unjust and create space for all voices.

9. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

(A Tale of Two Cities, 1859)

This famous line captures the tension of Dickens’s era—and our own. We live in a time of unprecedented access to knowledge, yet educational inequality, stress, and disconnection are also on the rise.

Dickens might tell teachers: you are working at a turning point in history. Education can heal or deepen social divides, depending on how it is wielded.

10. "Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts."

(Our Mutual Friend, 1865)

One of Dickens’s most beautiful and enduring lines, this is perhaps the most fitting blessing a teacher could receive.

It speaks to the resilience and compassion demanded of educators. Teaching is often exhausting, emotionally taxing work—but Dickens believed that kindness, extended consistently and quietly, is the greatest force for change.

The Personal Roots of a Public Mission

Dickens never forgot what it felt like to be a child left behind. The trauma of his early life—working in a rat-infested factory, separated from his family, and shamed for being poor—never left him. He wrote that no one who had endured such experiences could ever be the same again.

Yet he transformed his suffering into a moral vision that still resonates today. He called on society to see children not as tools or burdens, but as sacred trusts—with minds to be nourished and hearts to be protected.

What Would Charles Dickens Say to Teachers?

Maria Fonseca

Tue Jun 24 2025

Were Dickens alive today, walking the corridors of modern classrooms, witnessing both innovation and inequality, what would he say to teachers? What truths would he share, drawn from his own wounds and hopes?

Lessons from a Literary Giant on the Soul of Education

1. "There is a wisdom of the head, and... a wisdom of the heart."

2. "Train them to be polite and considerate, and then let them go their own way."

3. "It is a melancholy truth that even great men have their poor relations."

4. "No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it for anyone else."

5. "A loving heart is the truest wisdom."

6. "The sun himself is weak when he first rises, and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on."

7. "The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists."

8. "Charity begins at home, and justice begins next door."

9. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

10. "Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts."

The Personal Roots of a Public Mission

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