Coming Shapen Quote by George Eliot
““The story of their coming to be shapen after the average and fit to be packed by the gross, is hardly ever told even in their consciousness; for perhaps their ardour in generous unpaid toil cooled as imperceptibly as the ardour of other youthful loves, till one day their earlier self walked like a ghost in its old home and made the new furniture ghastly... Lydgate did not mean to be one of those failures, and there was the better hope of him because his scientific interest soon took the form of a professional enthusiasm””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Middlemarch by George Eliot, 1871
The quote reflects how early ambitions and youthful vigor can fade into routine, leaving a ghost of one’s former self, but scientific passion can revive purpose.
In simple terms: Youthful zeal fades, but science can rekindle purpose.
Key Takeaway
Pursue meaningful work that aligns with your passions.
Themes
identity
purpose
career
growth
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- career transition
- academic research
- personal reinvention
Key Concepts
existentialism
self‑realization
professional enthusiasm
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you keep youthful passion alive in a career?
- What role does scientific curiosity play in personal fulfillment?
A Different Perspective
May become nostalgic and overlook practical constraints.
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![“[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)
