George Eliot

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

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

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.

Nothing is so good as it seems beforehand.

There is a sort of jealousy which needs very little fire; it is hardly a passion, but a blight bred in the cloudy, damp despondency of uneasy egoism.

It’s them as take advantage that get advantage I this world.

I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.

Man is God’s highest present development. He is the latest thing in God.

That after an hour’s silence he can say, The one thing I cannot stand is dampness… That’s all, it took him an hour to work that out.

I recall a most ingenious piece in a Wisconsin quarterly some years ago in which ‘The Recognitions’ ’ debt to ‘Ulysses’ was established in such minute detail I was doubtful of my own firm recollection of never having read ‘Ulysses.

A friend is one who incessantly pays us the compliment of expecting from us all the virtues, and who can appreciate them in us. The friend asks no return but that his friend will religiously accept and wear and not disgrace his apotheosis of him. They cherish each other’s hopes. They are kind to each other’s dreams.

Is life worth living? This is a question for an embryo not for a man.

First love is only a little foolishness and a lot of curiosity: no really self-respecting woman would take advantage of it.

Each time you learn something new you must readjust the whole framework of your knowledge

Rest in reason; move in passion.

When you’re drowning, you don’t say ‘I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,’ you just scream.

Always seeking acceptance from others, searching for belonging. Striving for individuality, yet wanting to fit in. Never understanding that acceptance for one’s own individuality make all of that redundant.

Write without pay until somebody offers to pay you. If nobody offers within three years, sawing wood is what you were intended for.

Begin, be bold and venture to be wise.

Method goes far to prevent trouble in business: for it makes the task easy, hinders confusion, saves abundance of time, and instructs those that have business depending, both what to do and what to hope.

The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes.