George Eliot

We must find our duties in what comes to us, not in what might have been.

Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.

In the vain laughter of folly wisdom hears half its applause.

A patronizing disposition always has its meaner side.

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

To have in general but little feeling, seems to be the only security against feeling too much on any particular occasion.

A portion of mankind take pride in their vices and pursue their purpose; many more waver between doing what is right and complying with what is wrong.

When I was as you are now, towering in the confidence of twenty-one, little did I suspect that I should be at forty-nine, what I now am.

We are stripped bare by the curse of plenty.

The sovereign is called a tyrant who knows no laws but his caprice.

Fame must have enemies, as light must have gnats.

The way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.

Mysteries are due to secrecy.

Love truth, but pardon error.

There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.

You must not blame me if I do talk to the clouds.

We have all seen with a sense of nausea the abject, squalid, shameless avowal made in the Oxford Union. We are told that we ought not to treat it seriously. The Times talked of the childrens hour. I disagree. It is a very disquieting and disgusting symptom. One can almost feel the curl of contempt upon the lips of the manhood of Germany, Italy, and France when they read the message sent out by Oxford University in the name of Young England. Let them be assured that it is not the last word. But before they blame, as blame they should, these callow ill-tutored youths, they must be sure that they have not been set a bad example by people much older and much higher up.

It doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like as long as somebody loves you.

Remember always that you have not only the right to be an individual; you have an obligation to be one. You cannot make any useful contribution in life unless you do this.

What right have I to grieve, who have not ceased to wonder?

The first half of life consists of the capacity to enjoy without the chance; the last half consists of the chance without the capacity.