100+ Thought-Provoking Quotes by George Eliot: A Source of Timeless Wisdom and Inspiration
Mary Ann Evans, famously known by her pen name George Eliot, is revered as one of the most influential literary figures of the Victorian era. Her writings are celebrated for their narrative depth and profound insights into human nature, ethics, and the multifaceted aspects of life. The inspirational quotes by George Eliot continue to resonate with readers today, providing enduring wisdom that transcends the boundaries of time and culture. Eliot’s exceptional ability to articulate the complexities of human emotion and thought is reflected in the best quotes by George Eliot, cherished for their universal relevance. Whether you seek motivation, introspection, or a deeper understanding of existence, these thought-provoking quotes by George Eliot serve as timeless treasures that inspire and enlighten.
- “Falsehood is easy; truth is so difficult.”
- “The noble work of helping the world forward does not await the perfection of individuals.”
- “I appreciate not only being loved but also being told that I am loved.”
- “A mere pursuit of our own narrow pleasures is truly a poor kind of happiness.”
- “Much talent is wasted in the world due to a lack of courage.”
- “Selfishness can always be forgiven, you know, for there is no hope of curing it.”
- “There is no emotion, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find solace in music.”
- “What greater joy exists for two human souls than to feel they are united for life?”
- “Justice resembles the kingdom of God—it is not found as an external truth; it dwells within us as a profound yearning.”
- “It is futile to suggest that human beings should be content with tranquility; they require action.”
- “The best way to uphold a good reputation is to live in accordance with it.”
- “The crucial work of advancing society does not wait for perfect individuals to take action.”
- “The only failure a man should fear is the failure to adhere to the purpose he believes to be the most righteous.”
- “A significant portion of philanthropy often arises from vanity and the desire for distinction.”
- “People are generally better than their neighbors perceive them to be.”
- “What we term our despair is often merely the painful eagerness of unfulfilled hope.”
- “Genius is the ability to see connections where others see none.”
- “To be loved unconditionally until the very end of life is a privilege that the world cannot take away.”
- “To maintain a general lack of feeling seems to be the only safeguard against excessive emotions on specific occasions.”
- “Truth may have rough flavors if we dare to bite into it.”
- “Ignorance may not be as detestable as deceit, but when it prescribes remedies, it can cause more harm.”
- “Blessed is the person who, having nothing to say, refrains from providing verbose evidence of the fact.”
- “Those who place their trust in us educate us as much as we teach them.”
- “Genius initially appears to be little more than an extraordinary capacity for receiving training and discipline.”
- “What do we live for, if not to ease the burdens of one another?”
- “In times of unrest, the sole path to safety lies in self-restraint.”
- “No evil dooms us hopelessly except the evil we cherish and desire to persist in without effort to escape.”
- “Perhaps the most delightful friendships are those filled with much agreement, spirited debate, and even more personal affection.”
- “Sympathetic individuals often struggle to communicate effectively; they reflect images that obscure their own depths.”
- “Half of women’s sorrows would vanish if they could hold back the words they know to be futile.”
- “The right word may be impactful, but no word is as impactful as a well-timed pause.”
- “A difference in humor can create significant strains in relationships.”
- “Our actions are akin to children born to us; they live and operate independently of our own will.”
- “The world is teeming with hopeful analogies and appealing, yet uncertain, possibilities.”
- “The finest language chiefly comprises simple, unpretentious words.”
- “There are numerous defeats that feel worse than an outright failure.”
- “A woman composed of such exquisite elements that were all virtue and charm destroyed could create a paradise from ruins.”
- “Anger and jealousy can hardly endure to lose sight of their objects, just as love cannot.”
- “He resembled a rooster who believed the sun rose solely to hear him crow.”
- “What loneliness is more profound than mistrust?”
- “The fleeting golden moments in the stream of life rush past us, leaving us to see nothing but sand.”
- “It is never too late to become what you might have been.”
- “What do we exist for, if not to alleviate the struggles of one another?”
- “The most powerful principle of growth resides in human choice.”
- “Blessed is the influence of one genuine, loving soul on another.”
- “Adventure is not found outside of oneself; it resides within.”
- “Great accomplishments are not achieved through impulse, but through a series of small, concerted efforts.”
- “Our actions define us just as much as we define our actions.”
- “Delightful autumn! My very soul is entwined with it.”
- “The reward for fulfilling one duty is the capacity to undertake another.”
- “The ongoing goodness of the world is partly reliant on uncelebrated acts.”
- “There is no despair so absolute as that which accompanies the initial moments of our first great sorrow.”
- “Wear a smile and make friends; wear a frown and accumulate wrinkles.”
- “A divergence in humor can be a significant strain on affections.”
- “Roses will not rain upon us: if we wish for more roses, we must plant more trees.”
- “Our departed are never truly gone from us until we have forgotten them.”
- “Animals are such agreeable companions—they ask no questions and pass no judgments.”
- “The best indication of a man’s success in his field is that he considers it the finest in the world.”
- “Excellence inspires one to view life broadly; it showcases the spiritual wealth of the universe.”
- “Gossip is akin to smoke that emanates from the dirty tobacco pipes of those who spread it.”
- “To manage people, one should possess a sharp intellect enveloped in gentleness.”
- “The onset of remorse marks the beginning of a renewed life.”
- “The happiest women, like the happiest nations, do not possess a history.”
- “We surrender individuals to God’s mercy while showing none ourselves.”
- “To experience profound joy without a robust physical form, one must possess an enthusiastic spirit.”
- “No story remains the same to us after a passage of time; or rather, we who read it are no longer the same interpreters.”
- “The fundamental condition of human goodness is something to cherish; the second is something to hold in reverence.”
- “The universe is filled with hopeful analogies and alluring, uncertain possibilities.”
- “The reward for a task well done is simply the act of having completed it.”
- “Every limit signifies a new beginning as well as an ending.”
- “Ignorance allows for a wide range of possibilities.”
- “There is no private existence that has not been shaped by a broader public life.”
- “One must experience poverty to truly appreciate the luxury of giving.”
- “Opposition can become sweet to a person when they label it persecution.”
- “Character is not chiseled in stone; it is not something fixed and unchangeable.”
- “I am not fooled by grand words; I can discern the meaning of actions.”
- “People glorify all forms of bravery except the courage they might show in defense of their closest neighbors.”
- “It appears to me that we can never relinquish our longing and desire while we are still alive.”
- “Vanity is as uncomfortable under indifference as tenderness is under a love it cannot reciprocate.”
- “Life seems to unfold effortlessly when I am filled with music.”
- “The only failure worth lamenting is the failure to live in accordance with one’s beliefs.”
- “Pride can be beneficial; it is not inherently negative when it drives us to shield our own wounds without inflicting harm on others.”
- “If we could truly perceive all aspects of ordinary human life, it would be akin to hearing the grass grow and sensing the heartbeat of a squirrel.”
- “Stay true. Never shy away from doing what is right. Determine what you believe is right and adhere to it steadfastly.”
- “Jealousy is never satisfied with anything less than an all-knowing awareness that would reveal the subtlest folds of the heart.”
- “One feels that life was meaningful; that there was some validation for our existence.”
- “The worst hobbies are those that individuals believe they can pursue simply because they benefit others.”
- “No great deed is accomplished by falterers who seek certainty.”
- “The oppressive hand of the past weighs heavily on the present.”
- “Failure after prolonged perseverance is far more magnificent than never having strived earnestly enough to be considered a failure.”
- “The truth is the most precious possession a man can hold.”
- “To have improved even one person’s life, however slightly, is to have succeeded.”
- “Our awareness seldom acknowledges the onset of growth within us any more than it does in the external world.”
- “The best guide to life is a heart rich in experience.”
- “No one is indoctrinated into the art of living until they have faced substantial temptation.”
- “It is always detrimental to have music or poetry interrupted.”
- “Little children symbolize the eternal union of love and duty.”
- “If we had true insight into all facets of ordinary human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow.”
- “Gossip resembles smoke that arises from the dirty tobacco pipes of those who spread it.”
- “No compliment can be truly eloquent unless it conveys a sense of indifference.”
- “The dawn of remorse signifies the commencement of new life.”
- “The mind is not set in stone—it is not a fixed entity. It is as mutable as our actions.”
- “One must experience poverty to truly appreciate the luxury of giving.”
- “Vanity feels as uncomfortable under indifference as tenderness does under unreciprocated love.”
- “It reflects a narrow mind that cannot view a subject from various perspectives.”
- “Selfish tears fall on one’s own plate, spoiling the meal.”
- “You should study history and observe humanity as it is, not as you imagine it to be.”
- “As we age, the world appears increasingly strange and challenging.”
- “There is no hope for a woman who possesses no better manners than to be enamored with herself.”
- “Love has a way of deceiving us by offering small pleasures that enchant us temporarily.”
- “The grand mission of the world is to enhance life for one another.”
