George Eliot

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

What do we live for; if it is not to make life less difficult to each other?

For character too is a process and an unfolding… among our valued friends is there not someone or other who is a little too self confident and disdainful; whose distinguished mind is a little spotted with commonness; who is a little pinched here and protuberant there with native prejudices; or whose better energies are liable to lapse down the wrong channel under the influence of transient solicitations?

Any coward can fight a battle when he’s sure of winning, but give me the man who has pluck to fight when he’s sure of losing. That’s my way, sir; and there are many victories worse than a defeat.

There is much pain that is quite noiseless; and vibrations that make human agonies are often a mere whisper in the roar of hurrying existence. There are glances of hatred that stab and raise no cry of murder; robberies that leave man or woman for ever beggared of peace and joy, yet kept secret by the sufferer –committed to no sound except that of low moans in the night, seen in no writing except that made on the face by the slow months of suppressed anguish and early morning tears. Many an inherited sorrow that has marred a life has been breathed into no human ear.

Harold, like the rest of us, had many impressions which saved him the trouble of distinct ideas.

Where women love each other, men learn to smother their mutual dislike.

A man is a god in ruins.

Rituals are important. Nowadays it’s hip not to be married. I’m not interested in being hip.

Never let formal education get in the way of your learning.

I’m just preparing my impromptu remarks.

Still, if you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than live as slaves.

He that gives good advice builds with one hand; he that gives good counsel and example builds with both.

Truth is a naked and open daylight.

One of the most attractive things about the flowers is their beautiful reserve.

Shallow people believe in luck and in circumstances; Strong people believe in cause and effect.

To be candid, in Middlemarch phraseology, meant, to use an early opportunity of letting your friends know that you did not take a cheerful view of their capacity, their conduct, or their position; and a robust candor never waited to be asked for its opinion.

Knowledge is more than equivalent to force.

Much reading is an oppression of the mind, and extinguishes the natural candle, which is the reason of so many senseless scholars in the world.

A wise man is cured of ambition by ambition itself; his aim is so exalted that riches, office, fortune and favour cannot satisfy him.

Wisdom begins in wonder.