Battle Quote by George Eliot
“The desire to conquer is itself a sort of subjection.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Middlemarch, George Eliot, 1871
The drive to dominate inherently involves surrendering freedom, highlighting paradoxes of power.
In simple terms: Desire to dominate is self‑subjugation.
Key Takeaway
Recognize power’s paradoxes.
Themes
power
freedom
paradox
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- politics
- personal ambition
- relationships
Key Concepts
philosophy of authority
psychology of ambition
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your desire for control affect others?
- Can true freedom exist with domination?
A Different Perspective
Power can corrupt intentions.
![“[W]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range of music, and will not vibrate in the least under a touch that fills others with tremulous rapture or quivering agony.” quote by George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9be/george-eliot-84_agony_w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves_12409.jpg)
