Go forward with joyful confidence.
George EliotRead
Every woman is supposed to have the same set of motives, or else to be a monster.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights societal expectations for women to conform to a uniform set of motivations or face stigmatization.
George Eliot's quote reflects the rigid social norms imposed on women, suggesting that society often expects them to possess a commonality in their aspirations and desires. Deviating from this expected set of motives can lead to being labeled as 'monstrous,' illustrating a lack of acceptance for diversity in women's identities and ambitions. Eliot critiques this narrow view, advocating for the recognition of individuality and the complexity of human motivations.
Themes
WomenSocietyMotivesExpectationsIndividuality
In practice
Example use cases
In a women's rights seminar to emphasize the need for individuality beyond societal norms.
More from George Eliot
All quotes βYou must love your work, and not be always looking over the edge of it, wanting your play to begin. And the other is, you must not be ashamed of your work, and think it would be more honorable to you to be doing something else. You must have a pride in your own work and in learning to do it well.
George EliotRead
She thought it was part of the hardship of her life that there was laid upon her the burthen of larger wants than others seemed to feel β that she had to endure this wide hopeless yearning for that something, whatever it was, that was greatest and best on this earth.
George EliotRead
Life seems to go on without effort when I am filled with music.
George EliotRead
I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music. It seems to infuse strength into my limbs and ideas into my brain. Life seems to go on without effort, when I am filled with music.
George EliotRead
Our dead are never dead to us until we have forgotten them: they can be injured by us, they can be wounded; they know all our penitence, all our aching sense that their place is empty, all the kisses we bestow on the smallest relic of their presence.
George EliotRead
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