Action Quote by George Eliot
““The prevarication and white lies which a mind that keeps itself ambitiously pure is as uneasy under as a great artist under the false touches that no eye detects but his own, are worn as lightly as mere trimming when once the actions have become a lie.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Middlemarch by George Eliot, 1871
A mind striving for perfect purity becomes fragile, like an artist whose unnoticed flaws are barely trimmed, once actions turn deceitful.
In simple terms: Pure intentions become fragile when actions become lies.
Key Takeaway
Guard honesty to keep integrity.
Themes
integrity
art
truth
self‑deception
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- creative work
- leadership
- ethical decision‑making
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
literature
Questions to Reflect On
- How do small untruths affect your self‑image?
- What steps can you take to maintain honesty?
A Different Perspective
Even pure intentions can be corrupted by small lies, eroding trust.
![“[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)
