George Eliot

That’s what a man wants in a wife, mostly; he wants to make sure one fool tells him he’s wise.

In all private quarrels the duller nature is triumphant by reason of dullness.

The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men.

Our passions do not live apart in locked chambers but dress in their small wardrobe of notions, bring their provisions to a common table and mess together, feeding out of the common store according to their appetite.

Mortals are easily tempted to pinch the life out of their neighbour’s buzzing glory, and think that such killing is no murder.

Hostesses who entertain much must make up their parties as ministers make up their cabinets, on grounds other than personal liking.

I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.

Zeal ever follows an appearance of truth, and the assured are too apt to be warm; but it is their weak side in argument; zeal being better shown against sin than persons, or their mistakes.

Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.

Do not waste your time on Social Questions. What is the matter with the poor is Poverty; what is the matter with the rich is Uselessness.

Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant.

Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.

Opportunity makes a thief.

I strive to be brief, and I become obscure.

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.

Nothing flatters a man as much as the happiness of his wife; he is always proud of himself as the source of it.

Knowledge comes by eyes always open and working hands; and there is no knowledge that is not power.

Noise proves nothing. Often a hen who has merely laid an egg cackles as if she laid an asteroid.

It is all right to rat, but you can’t re-rat.

One of the first businesses of a sensible man is to know when he is beaten, and to leave off fighting at once.

While we ourselves are the living graves of murdered beasts, how can we expect any ideal conditions on this earth?