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, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all doing direct the other way.
這是最幸運的年代，也是最倒霉的年代，這是智慧的年代，也是愚昧的年代；這個時期信仰與懷疑共存，這個時期光明與黑暗共存；這是希望之春，也是失望之冬；人們面前琳瑯滿目，但又一無所有；我們正直達天堂，我們正直通地獄。
