Faces Quote by George Eliot
“Worldly faces never look so worldly as at a funeral. They have the same effect of grating incongruity as the sound of a coarse voice breaking the solemn silence of night.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Middlemarch, George Eliot, 1871
People appear more artificial and out of place during solemn events, highlighting a clash between appearance and atmosphere.
In simple terms: People seem fake at funerals.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and accept authentic emotions.
Themes
authenticity
appearance
grief
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
observational
literary
When to use this quote
- funeral gatherings
- public speaking
- media appearances
Key Concepts
social perception
cognitive dissonance
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you maintain authenticity in solemn moments?
- What masks do we wear when grieving?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overgeneralize; not all settings feel incongruous.
![“[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)
![“I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with [my wife] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and I just had such a strong reaction to the prayer. And I was really emotionally - I felt really grounded at that time. And so to be in this prayer and the imam is doing the prayer in…” quote by Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d31/mahershala-ali-6687_attention_i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with_3083.jpg)
