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Chance Quote by George Eliot

“Favourable Chance, I fancy, is the god of all men who follow their own devices instead of obeying a law they believe in. Let even a polished man of these days get into a position he is ashamed to avow, and his mind will be bent on all the possible issues that may deliver him from the calculable…” quote by George Eliot
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““Favourable Chance, I fancy, is the god of all men who follow their own devices instead of obeying a law they believe in. Let even a polished man of these days get into a position he is ashamed to avow, and his mind will be bent on all the possible issues that may deliver him from the calculable results of that position. Let him live outside his income, or shirk the resolute honest work that brings wages, and he will presently find himself dreaming of a possible benefactor, a possible simpleton who may be cajoled into using his interest, a possible state of mind in some possible person not yet forthcoming. Let him neglect the responsibilities of his office, and he will inevitably anchor himself on the chance that the thing left undone may turn out not to be of the supposed importance. Let him betray his friend's confidence, and he will adore that same cunning complexity called Chance, which gives him the hope that his friend will never know. Let him forsake a decent craft that he may pursue the gentilities of a profession to which nature never called him, and his religion will infallibly be the worship of blessed Chance, which he will believe in as the mighty creator of success. The evil principle deprecated in that religion is the orderly sequence by which the seed brings forth a crop after its kind.””

George Eliot

About This Quote

Source Novel: Middlemarch by George Eliot, 1871

The quote critiques reliance on luck over disciplined effort, warning that those who chase chance abandon responsibility and rational planning.

In simple terms: Relying on luck leads to neglect of duty and rational thought.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize disciplined work over hoping for luck.

Themes

responsibility discipline luck morality

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

  • career decisions
  • financial planning
  • personal integrity
  • relationship trust

Key Concepts

ethical philosophy human nature consequences

Questions to Reflect On

  • Do you prioritize chance or disciplined effort?
  • How does reliance on luck affect your responsibilities?
A Different Perspective

Luck cannot replace consistent effort and accountability.

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