Quote

I'll tell you what's the greatest power under heaven, and that is public opinion-the ruling belief in society about what is right and what is wrong, what is honourable and what is shameful. That's the steam that is to work the engines.

George Eliot

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

George Eliot
Age: 61 †
Born: 1819
Born: November 22
Died: 1880
Died: December 22
Editor
Essayist
Journalist
Novelist
Philosopher
Poet
Translator
Writer
Mary Anne Evans
Mary Ann Evans
Marian Evans
Mary Anne Evans Cross
Mary Anne Cross
Tell
Engines
Power
Greatest
Right
Opinion
Work
Public
Belief
Honourable
Wrong
Shameful
Heaven
Steam
Society
Ruling

More quotes by George Eliot

Image
I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music.
George Eliot
Image
Plainness has its peculiar temptations and vices quite as much as beauty.
George Eliot
Image
People are so ridiculous with their illusions, carrying their fool's caps unawares, thinking their own lies opaque while everybody else's are transparent, making themselves exceptions to everything, as if when all the world looked yellow under a lamp they alone are rosy.
George Eliot
Image
It is hard to believe long together that anything is worth while, unless there is some eye to kindle in common with our own, some brief word uttered now and then to imply that what is infinitely precious to us is precious alike to another mind.
George Eliot
Image
The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men.
George Eliot
Image
It always seemed to me a sort of clever stupidity only to have one sort of talent - like a carrier pigeon.
George Eliot
Image
We mortals, men and women, devour many a disappointment between breakfast and dinner-time keep back the tears and look a little pale about the lips, and in answer to inquiries say, Oh, nothing! Pride helps and pride is not a bad thing when it only urges us to hide our hurts— not to hurt others.
George Eliot
Image
Death is the only physician, the shadow of his valley the only journeying that will cure us of age and the gathering fatigue of years.
George Eliot
Image
Any coward can fight a battle when he's sure of winning but give me the man who has the pluck to fight when he's sure of losing.
George Eliot
Image
Trouble comes to us all in this life: we set our hearts on things which it isn't God's will for us to have, and then we go sorrowing.
George Eliot
Image
Beauty is part of the finished language by which goodness speaks.
George Eliot
Image
There are glances of hatred that stab, and raise no cry of murder.
George Eliot
Image
There are new eras in one's life that are equivalent to youth-are something better than youth.
George Eliot
Image
To the old, sorrow is sorrow to the young, it is despair.
George Eliot
Image
There is nothing that will kill a man so soon as having nobody to find fault with but himself.
George Eliot
Image
But how little we know what would make paradise for our neighbours! We judge from our own desires, and our neighbours themselves are not always open enough even to throw out a hint of theirs.
George Eliot
Image
Harold, like the rest of us, had many impressions which saved him the trouble of distinct ideas.
George Eliot
Image
Mighty is the force of motherhood! It transforms all things by its vital heat.
George Eliot
Image
Time, like money, is measured by our needs.
George Eliot
Image
Where women love each other, men learn to smother their mutual dislike.
George Eliot