George Eliot

There is a sort of subjection which is the peculiar heritage of largeness and of love; and strength is often only another name for willing bondage to irremediable weakness.

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.

Vanity is as ill at ease under indifference as tenderness is under a love which it cannot return.

We women are always in danger of living too exclusively in the affections; and though our affections are perhaps the best gifts we have, we ought also to have our share of the more independent life — some joy in things for their own sake. It is piteous to see the helplessness of some sweet women when their affections are disappointed — because all their teaching has been, that they can only delight in study of any kind for the sake of a personal love. They have never contemplated an independent delight in ideas as an experience which they could confess without being laughed at. Yet surely women need this defense against passionate affliction even more than men.

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

The growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistorical acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.

If thou wouldn’t conquer thy weakness thou must not gratify it.

There mark what ills the scholar’s life assail, toil, envy, want, and patron.

Time will bring to light whatever is hidden; it will cover up and conceal what is now shining in splendor.

He who has made it a practice to lie and deceive his father, will be the most daring in deceiving others.

Necessity is the mother of taking chances.

I never worry about action, but only inaction.

I could never be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.

We rail at trade, but the historian of the world will see that it was the principle of liberty; that it settled America, and destroyed feudalism, and made peace and keeps peace; that it will abolish slavery.

Opinions have vested interests just as men have.

The most dangerous people are those who have passion but lack wisdom.

Friendship . . . is an Union of Spirits, a Marriage of Hearts, and the Bond thereof Vertue.

Argue for your limitations and, sure enough, they’re yours.

Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.

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

To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.