Go forward with joyful confidence.
George EliotRead
The presence of a noble nature, generous in its wishes, ardent in its charity, changes the lights for us: we begin to see things again in their larger, quieter masses, and to believe that we too can be seen and judged in the wholeness of our character.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the transformative power of a noble and generous spirit, suggesting that such qualities allow us to perceive life and ourselves more deeply.
George Eliot highlights how the presence of a noble and generous individual can alter our perspective on life and ourselves. When we encounter such people, we start to see beyond the surface and recognize the deeper qualities of character in ourselves and others. It encourages us to believe in the goodness of humanity and the potential for a holistic understanding of character, which fosters a more compassionate world.
Themes
NobilityGenerosityCharacterPerspectiveKindness
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used at a charity event to emphasize the impact of generous actions.
More from George Eliot
All quotes →You 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 – 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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