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.

The fact is, both callers and work thicken - the former sadly interfering with the latter.

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

We have all got to exert ourselves a little to keep sane, and call things by the same names as other people call them by.

And Dorothea..she had no dreams of being praised above other women. Feeling that there was always something better which she might have done if she had only been better and known better, her full nature spent itself in deeds which left no great name on the earth, but the effect of her being on those around her was incalculable. For the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts and on all those Dorotheas who life faithfully their hidden lives and rest in unvisited tombs. Middlemarch

Starting a long way off the true point, and proceeding by loops and zigzags , we now and then arrive just where we ought to be.

To the receptive soul the river of life pauseth not, nor is diminished.