Accord Quote by George Eliot
“Two angels guide The path of man, both aged and yet young. As angels are, ripening through endless years, On one he leans: some call her Memory, And some Tradition; and her voice is sweet, With deep mysterious accords: the other, Floating above, holds down a lamp with streams A light divine and searching on the earth, Compelling eyes and footsteps. Memory yields, Yet clings with loving check, and shines anew, Reflecting all the rays of that bright lamp Our angel Reason holds. We had not walked But for Tradition; we walk evermore To higher paths by brightening Reason's lamp.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "Two Angels", 1860
Two guiding forces—Memory and Tradition—support Reason, illuminating humanity’s path toward higher understanding.
In simple terms: Memory and Tradition help Reason shine brighter.
Key Takeaway
Balance past insights with present reason.
Themes
wisdom
history
reason
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education
- cultural preservation
- personal growth
Key Concepts
memory
tradition
guidance
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you integrate memory with new ideas?
- What role does tradition play in your decisions?
A Different Perspective
Relying solely on tradition can hinder progress.
![“[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)
