“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness...”

这段开篇语无疑是全书最著名的句子之一。它简洁而深刻地概括了那个动荡时代的两面性——既有希望也有绝望，既充满智慧又满是愚昧。这种对立统一贯穿整部小说，让读者感受到历史洪流中个体命运的无常。

“Charles Darnay stood in the dock at the Old Bailey, his face pale but resolute...”

作为故事的核心人物之一，达尔内先生因涉嫌背叛家族而接受审判。这一场景充满了紧张感，同时也揭示了当时司法体系的不公。尽管他无辜，但社会偏见和阶级差异使得他的处境岌岌可危。

“Sydney Carton’s selfless act has always been considered one of the most touching moments in English literature...”

卡顿先生为了成全所爱之人，最终选择牺牲自己的生命。他的这句话：“It is a far, far better thing that I do than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.” 不仅表达了他对生命的深刻理解，也体现了无私奉献的精神。卡顿的形象因此成为忠诚与牺牲的象征。

这些摘录只是《双城记》浩瀚篇章中的冰山一角。小说通过对不同阶层人物命运的描绘，探讨了正义、复仇以及救赎等永恒主题。狄更斯以其独特的叙事技巧和丰富的情感表达，使这部作品跨越时空界限，至今仍能引发读者强烈的共鸣。