This quote humorously acknowledges the arduous and often frustrating process of novel writing, highlighting how modern distractions—such as high-quality television and the endless internet—make creative work even more challenging today. It also plays with the idea of historical writers like Charles Dickens, suggesting in a tongue-in-cheek manner that because they lacked contemporary distractions, they might have had an easier time writing compared to today's writers juggling countless digital interruptions. The humor lies in the exaggeration that Dickens had 'nothing better to do' than more mundane activities, which absurdly diminishes the difficulty of his literary achievements.

Reflecting on this perspective, I find it touches on the universal struggle of creation across eras, amplified by modern life’s distractions. Writing is inherently a difficult craft, requiring sustained focus, discipline, and often sacrifice. In today’s context, remembering the perseverance of past authors can be both inspiring and humbling. While critics might joke about Dickens’s less hectic daily life, his achievements were undoubtedly monumental, accomplished despite—or perhaps because of—the limitations of his era. Today’s writers face unique challenges, constantly battling the barrage of digital interruptions that can derail concentrated effort for hours.

Overall, the quote encourages us to appreciate the effort behind literary greatness, recognizing that every writer, no matter the era, wrestles with obstacles. It also humorously comments on how the modern world demands a different kind of resilience, where finding sustained focus is becoming an even more valuable skill. Such reflections remind us that while tools and circumstances change, the core difficulty of creating meaningful work remains constant.