Most Iconic Lines
Some lines of literature stay with us long after we’ve read them. Across the generations, these snippets of wisdom, emotion, and insight are passed on, repeated, and remembered. With that in mind, here are 5 phrases many of us can’t stop thinking about.
1. A Tale of Two Cities
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities). This is the opening line to the Charles Dickens novel A Tale of Two Cities. It presents a series of paradoxes to describe the period of the French Revolution. Dickens sets the tone for a novel filled with contrasts and extremes in human experience.
Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash
2. Frankenstein
“Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.” (Mary Shelley, Frankenstein). The book was an artistic as well as literary masterpiece, which for the first time explored the untapped and untouched themes of ambition, isolation, societal neglect, and the implications of defying nature. Frankenstein has been part of gothic literature for a while now and is widely recognized as one of the best in this genre.
3. Beloved
“Love is or it ain’t. Thin love ain’t love at all.” (Toni Morrison, Beloved). This quote perfectly demonstrates that there is no such thing as half-hearted love for the author. It also seems that only the real thing can be acceptable for her and that there is no place for “ifs” in love.
4. Wuthering Heights
“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” (Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights). This quote from Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights perfectly encapsulates the intense and passionate connection between the novel’s two main characters, Catherine and Heathcliff. Brontë was an English novelist and poet best known for her passionate, gothic novel, Wuthering Heights.
5. The Lord of the Rings
“There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.” (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers). Tolkien’s The Two Towers is one of hope and perseverance in the face of darkness and adversity. It speaks to the power of standing up for what is right, even when the odds are against you. The line is spoken by Samwise Gamgee, a character who embodies the enduring spirit and courage of ordinary individuals in extraordinary circumstances.
