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Agony Quote by George Eliot

“[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
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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.””

George Eliot

About This Quote

The quote suggests that human souls have a narrow emotional bandwidth and cannot be easily moved by extreme feelings that affect others.

In simple terms: Souls have limited emotional range.

Key Takeaway

Human emotions are constrained.

Themes

human nature emotional limits artistic expression psychology subjectivity

Mood

thoughtful melancholic

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

  • writing about empathy
  • discussing emotional intelligence
  • analyzing artistic impact

Key Concepts

soul music metaphor emotional resonance

Practical Applications

  • psychology research
  • creative writing

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does this view affect our understanding of empathy?
  • Can art truly expand the soul's range?
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