David Copperfield as a child Quotes in David Copperfield (1935)

David Copperfield as a child: But why must I go away, Aunt Betsey? I want to stay with you, and Mr. Dick.

Aunt Betsy Trotwood: But you have to be educated, David, and take your place in the world. There isn't a finer school in Canterbury than Dr. Strong's. You must make us proud, David. Never be mean in anything. Never be false. Never be cruel. Avoid these three vices, and I can always be hopeful of you.

Barkis: No sweethearts I believe?

David Copperfield as a child: What?

Barkis: No person courting?

David Copperfield as a child: Oh. No, no.

Barkis: Ahhh. Well, when you is talking to her private, perhaps you'd tell her that Barkis is willing.

David Copperfield as a child: That Barkis is willing. Is that all the message?

Barkis: Well, y... y... yes. Barkis is willing.

David Copperfield as a child: Very well, Mr Barkis. I'll tell her.

Mr. Murdstone: If I have an obstinate horse or a dog to deal with what do you think I'd do?

David Copperfield as a child: I don't know.

Mr. Murdstone: I'd beat him. I'd make him wince and smart. I say to myself, "I'll conquer that fellow". And if it were to cost him all the blood he had, I'd do it.

Nurse Peggotty: Don't be unhappy David.

David Copperfield as a child: I'll be happy Peggotty. And I'll see you sometimes.

[as Pegotty kisses David he notices Mr Barkis looking down at him from the cart]

David Copperfield as a child: Oh, but Peggotty, you haven't given Mr. Barkis his proper answer, you know.

Nurse Peggotty: Oh, bless the boy. Answer to what?

Barkis: Barkis is willing.

Nurse Peggotty: What would you say, darling, if I was to marry Mr. Barkis?

David Copperfield as a child: I should think it would be a very good thing. Then you would always have the horse and cart to bring you to see me in.

Nurse Peggotty: Oh, the sense of the boy!

Mr. Dick: Do you remember the date that King Charles I had his head cut off?

David Copperfield as a child: I believe it was in the year 1649.

Mr. Dick: Well, so the books say, but I don't see how that can be. Because if it was so long ago how could the trouble have got out of his head when it was cut off and into mine?

David Copperfield as a child: I'm sure I don't know.

Mrs. Clara Copperfield: What have you got against Mr Murdstone?

Nurse Peggotty: [unimpressed at the meer mention of his name] Huh!

Mrs. Clara Copperfield: Is it to be hinted at that I am lacking in affection for my precious treasure? The dearest little fellow that ever was!

Nurse Peggotty: Nobody ever went an hinted no such thing.

Mrs. Clara Copperfield: Am I a naughty mama to you, Davy? Am I a nasty and selfish bad mama? I don't love you at all do I

David Copperfield as a child: [tearful] Yes you do...

Nurse Peggotty: [the tearful three embrace] I never meant to hurt you, m'am. I never meant to.

Mr. Micawber: [walking downstairs with a cane] Gentlemen, gentlemen, gentlemen! In the aggregate I judge you to be a highly distasteful collection... and a detail cowardly, uncouth, and deserving of merciless chastisement. You will oblige me by removing your unsavory persons from my immediate vicinity: in short, get out!

[Mr. Micawber chases the workers away from David]

David Copperfield as a child: Oh, thank you, Mr. Micawber, you're so kind to me.

Mr. Micawber: Not at all, and now, since this is a red-letter day in that I am hourly expecting something extraordinary to turn up, let us return and discover what culinary triumphs Mrs. Micawber has prepared for us.

David Copperfield as a child: Ooh, how wonderful!

Mr. Micawber: Imperative, my dear Copperfield, imperative; for as I have frequently had occasion to observe, when the stomach is empty, the spirits are low.

Mr. Micawber: What is it? Come, little friend, open your heart.

David Copperfield as a child: It's only... that I shall miss you so very much; at Murdstone & Grinby I feel so alone and desperate, I do indeed. You've been so good to me, you and Mrs. Micawber, and as long as I had such friends, I couldn't despair.

Mr. Micawber: My little friend, you're like one of our own.

David Copperfield as a child: [tearfully] But now that you are going and there will be nobody, why I don't know what I shall do, indeed I do not.

Mr. Micawber: My motto has always been "nil desperandum": in short, never despair.

David Copperfield as a child: I have an aunt in Dover, I thought perhaps I...

Mr. Micawber: The very thing, my dear Copperfield; your aunt will welcome you with open arms.

David Copperfield as a child: She may not want to see me.

Mr. Micawber: Is not blood thicker than water?

David Copperfield as a child: But Peggotty told me she's very cantankerous, and perhaps she'd shut me out, and Dover's a long way.

Mr. Micawber: True, too true; nevertheless, as the Bard says: "Nothing attempted, nothing gained." And should this formidable aunt repulse you, write me a letter. We are friends for life, young Copperfield.

Mr. Micawber: [sings] We two have run around the braes,

Mr. Micawber, David Copperfield as a child: And pulled the gowans fine,

David Copperfield as a child: And...

[David and Mr. Micawber stop singing]

Mr. Micawber: Although what gowans are, I'm not exactly aware; however, we'll take a pull at them just the same.

Mr. Micawber: All that we have is yours, Master Copperfield; our domestic comforts, quiet, the privacy - - call them your own.

David Copperfield as a child: Thank you, sir.

Mr. Micawber: Count on us, now and forever.

David Copperfield as a child: I will, Mr. Micawber.

Mr. Micawber: Now that you're about to share with us the privileges of our domain, I will make no stranger of you. As man to man, I will confide in you that for years, I have been hounded most unjustly by my creditors; short-sighted fools they are.

David Copperfield as a child: I'm sorry, sir.

Mr. Micawber: I grant you that I have already tried the coal trade, the haberdashery trade, and Her Majesty's marines, and found none of these entirely suited to my somewhat special talents, but now-...

David Copperfield as a child: Yes, Mr. Micawber?

Mr. Micawber: I am confidently expecting something to turn up.

David Copperfield as a child: Oh thank you, Mr. Micawber, you're so kind to me.

Mr. Micawber: Not at all; and now, since this is a red-letter day, in that I am hourly expecting something extarordinary to turn up, let us return and discover what culinary triumphs Mrs. Micawber has prepared for us.

David Copperfield as a child: Ooh, how wonderful !

Mr. Micawber: Imperative, my dear Copperfield, imperative; for as I have frequently had occasion to observe: 'When the stomach is empty, the spirits are low.'

[David and Mr. Micawber go outside to the streets]

Mr. Micawber: I predict, my dear Copperfield, that we can confidently depend on Mrs. Micawber assembling a tureen of cock-a-leekie soup, veal cutlet - breaded, and a jug of egg-hot.

David Copperfield as a child: And a pudding?

Mr. Micawber: A pudding, a suet pudding, the very thing.

Sheriff's Man: Wilkins Micawber?

Mr. Micawber: You are under a misapprehension, my good fellow, I...

Mr. Quinion: Oh no you don't, you're Micawber, all right. You owe me £2.10 for the last year. Officer, do your duty.

Sheriff's Man: Wilkins Micawber, you're under arrest;

Mr. Micawber: Upon what authority do you take this unwarrantable procedure?

Sheriff's Man: Court order for debt; I'm the assistant officer of the sheriff of Middlesex. Now are you coming quietly?

Mr. Micawber: Copperfield, you perceive before you the shattered fragment of a temple once called Man. The blossom is blighted, the leaf is withered; the god of day goes down upon the dreary scene. In short, I am forever flawed.