George Eliot

Will not a tiny speck very close to our vision blot out the glory of the world, and leave only a margin by which we see the blot? I know no speck so troublesome as self.

His honest, patronizing pride in the good-will and respect of everybody about him was a safeguard even against foolish romance, still more against a lower kind of folly.

Few women, I fear, have had such reason as I have to think the long sad years of youth were worth living for the sake of middle age.

More helpful than all wisdom is one draught of simple human pity that will not forsake us.

I’m proof against that word failure. I’ve seen behind it. The only failure a man ought to fear is failure of cleaving to the purpose he sees to be best.

It is seldom that the miserable of the world can help regarding their misery as a wrong inflicted by those who are less miserable.

Discern of the coming on of years, and think not to do the same things still; for age will not be defied.

The way to be immortal (I mean not to die at all) is to have me for your heir. I recommend you to put me in your will and you will see that (as long as I live at least) you will never even catch cold.

Stand upright, speak thy thoughts, declare The truth thou hast, that all may share; Be bold, proclaim it everywhere: They only live who dare.

The good rain, like a bad preacher, does not know when to leave off.

A bargain is something you can’t use at a price you can’t resist.

For disappointments, that come not by our own folly, they are the trials or corrections of Heaven: and it is our own fault, if they prove not our advantage.

The older I grow the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom.

All the arguments which are brought to represent poverty as no evil show it evidently to be a great evil.

What is the imagination? Only an arm or weapon of the interior energy; only the precursor of the reason.

It does not need that a poem should be long. Every word was once a poem. Every new relationship is a new word.

The report of my death was an exaggeration.

As a thinker and planner the ant is the equal of any savage race of men; as a self-educated specialist in several arts she is the superior of any savage race of men; and in one or two high mental qualities she is above the reach of any man, savage or civilized!

Every great achievement is the victory of a flaming heart.

He is the best sailor who can steer within the fewest points of the wind, and exact a motive power out of the greatest obstacles.

In fine, he that is drunk is not a Man: Because he is so long void of Reason, that distinguishes a Man from a Beast.