George Eliot quotes

George Eliot, born Mary Ann Evans, was a remarkable English novelist and poet in the 19th century. Known for her profound storytelling and deep insight into human nature, Eliot captivated readers with her emotionally rich characters and intricate plots. Her iconic works, including "Middlemarch" and "The Mill on the Floss," explored themes of societal constraints, morality, and personal relationships. Eliot's unique perspective challenged traditional narratives and pushed boundaries, earning her a place among the literary greats. Her enduring legacy as a progressive author continues to inspire and engage readers to this day.

Errors look so very ugly in persons of small means – one feels they are taking quite a liberty in going astray; whereas people of fortune may naturally indulge in a few delinquencies.

- George Eliot

We mortals, men and women, devour many a disappointment between breakfast and dinner-time; keep back the tears and look a little pale about the lips, and in answer to inquiries say, "Oh, nothing!" Pride helps; and pride is not a bad thing when it only urges us to hide our hurts— not to hurt others.

- George Eliot

We are all humiliated by the sudden discovery of a fact which has existed very comfortably and perhaps been staring at us in private while we have been making up our world entirely without it.

- George Eliot

The troublesome ones in a family are usually either the wits or the idiots.

- George Eliot

The great safeguard of society and of domestic life was, that opinions were not acted on. Sane people did what their neighbors did, so that if any lunatics were at large, one might know and avoid them.

- George Eliot

Self-consciousness of the manner is the expensive substitute for simplicity.

- George Eliot

Pride helps us; and pride is not a bad thing when it only urges us to hide our own hurts—not to hurt others.

- George Eliot

Power of generalizing gives men so much the superiority in mistake over the dumb animals.

- George Eliot

People glorify all sorts of bravery except the bravery they might show on behalf of their nearest neighbors.

- George Eliot

People are almost always better than their neighbors think they are.

- George Eliot

Our deeds still travel with us from afar. And what we have been makes us what we are.

- George Eliot

One can begin so many things with a new person! - even begin to be a better man.

- George Eliot

Mortals are easily tempted to pinch the life out of their neighbor's buzzing glory, and think that such killing is no murder.

- George Eliot

Men outlive their love, but they don’t outlive the consequences of their recklessness.

- George Eliot

It’s rather a strong check to one’s self-complacency to find how much of one’s right doing depends on not being in want of money.

- George Eliot

It is very difficult to be learned; it seems as if people were worn out on the way to great thoughts, and can never enjoy them because they are too tired.

- George Eliot

It is always fatal to have music or poetry interrupted.

- George Eliot

It is a narrow mind which cannot look at a subject from various points of view.

- George Eliot

If youth is the season of hope, it is often so only in the sense that our elders are hopeful about us; for no age is so apt as youth to think its emotions, partings, and resolves are the last of their kind.

- George Eliot

If we had a keen vision and feeling of all ordinary human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow and the squirrel's heart beat, and we should die of that roar which lies on the other side of silence.

- George Eliot

I protest against any absolute conclusion.

- George Eliot

Every limit is a beginning as well as an ending.

- George Eliot

Each crisis seems final, simply because it is new. We are told that the oldest inhabitants in Peru do not cease to be agitated by the earthquakes, but they probably see beyond each shock, and reflect that there are plenty more to come.

- George Eliot

Confound you handsome young fellows! You think of having it all your own way in the world. You don't understand women. They don't admire you half so much as you admire yourselves.

- George Eliot

Blameless people are always the most exasperating.

- George Eliot

And, of course men know best about everything, except what women know better.

- George Eliot

Among all forms of mistake, prophecy is the most gratuitous.

- George Eliot

After all, the true seeing is within.

- George Eliot

A prig is a fellow who is always making you a present of his opinions.

- George Eliot

It is a common sentence that knowledge is power; but who hath duly considered or set forth the power of ignorance? Knowledge slowly builds up what ignorance in an hour pulls down.

- George Eliot