George Eliot quotes - page 4

George Eliot was an English novelist, poet, and journalist, celebrated for her insightful works such as "Middlemarch" and "Silas Marner." Her real name was Mary Ann Evans, and she adopted a male pen name to ensure her writings were taken seriously. She remains a towering figure in Victorian literature, known for her psychological depth and realism. Here are 538 of her quotes:

In old days there were angels who came and took men by the hand and led them away from the city of destruction. We see no white-winged angels now. But yet men are led away from threatening destruction a hand is put into theirs, which leads them forth gently towards a calm and bright land, so that they look no more backward and the hand may be a little child's.

George Eliot

Doubtless a great anguish may do the work of years, and we may come out from that baptism of fire with a soul full of new awe and new pity.

George Eliot

Childhood has no forebodings but then, it is soothed by no memories of outlived sorrow.

George Eliot

The egoism which enters into our theories does not affect their sincerity; rather, the more our egoism is satisfied, the more robust is our belief.

George Eliot

No compliment can be eloquent, except as an expression of indifference.

George Eliot

The intense happiness of our union is derived in a high degree from the perfect freedom with which we each follow and declare our own impressions.

George Eliot

When we get to wishing a great deal for ourselves, whatever we get soon turns into mere limitation and exclusion.

George Eliot

Breed is stronger than pasture.

George Eliot

Our words have wings, but fly not where we would.

George Eliot

In all failures, the beginning is certainly the half of the whole.

George Eliot

Might, could, would - they are contemptible auxiliaries.

George Eliot

There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.

George Eliot

There is no creature whose inward being is so strong that it is not greatly determined by what lies outside it.

George Eliot

An election is coming. Universal peace is declared, and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry.

George Eliot

Gossip is a sort of smoke that comes from the dirty tobacco-pipes of those who diffuse it it proves nothing but the bad taste of the smoker.

George Eliot

There's no disappointment in memory, and one's exaggerations are always on the good side.

George Eliot

Family likeness has often a deep sadness in it. Nature, that great tragic dramatist, knits us together by bone and muscle, and divides us by the subtler web of our brains blends yearning and repulsion and ties us by our heart-strings to the beings that jar us at every movement.

George Eliot

We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it . . .

George Eliot

If we had a keen vision and feeling it would be like hearing the grass grow and the squirrel's heart beat, and we should die of the roar which lies on the other side of silence. As it is, the quickest of us walk about well wadded with stupidity.

George Eliot

For what is love itself, for the one we love best? An enfolding of immeasurable cares which yet are better than any joys outside our love.

George Eliot

How lovely the little river is, with its dark changing wavelets It seems to me like a living companion while I wander along the bank, and listen to its low, placid voice . . .

George Eliot

The yoke a man creates for himself by wrong-doing will breed hate in the kindliest nature . . .

George Eliot