--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had not read George Eliot, so read a…" description: "\"I had not read George Eliot, so read a few. I felt ashamed I hadn't read \"Middlemarch\" before.\" — Stephen Dobyns" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/stephen-dobyns-13599_ashamed_i-had-not-read-george-eliot-so-read-a-fe_3008464.jpg" --- # I had not read George Eliot, so read a few. I felt ashamed… ![“I had not read George Eliot, so read a few. I felt ashamed I hadn't read "Middlemarch" before.” quote by Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/stephen-dobyns-13599_ashamed_i-had-not-read-george-eliot-so-read-a-fe_3008464.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/stephen-dobyns-13599_ashamed_i-had-not-read-george-eliot-so-read-a-fe_3008464.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/stephen-dobyns-13599_ashamed_i-had-not-read-george-eliot-so-read-a-fe_3008464.jpg) > “I had not read George Eliot, so read a few. I felt ashamed I hadn't read "Middlemarch" before.” [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feeling regret for not reading classic literature earlier. **In simple terms:** Regret over missed reading. Key Takeaway Read more classics. Themes literature regret learning Mood thoughtful motivational Type literary personal development When to use this quote - book clubs - education - self‑improvement - writing Key Concepts cultural literacy personal growth Questions to Reflect On - Which classic intrigues you? - How will you prioritize reading? A Different Perspective Time constraints limit reading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Ashamed Hadn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed-hadn-3646126/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eliot/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Felt Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-ashamed-234911/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-eliot/) [Hadn Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hadn-read-906213/) [Middlemarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middlemarch/) [Read Middlemarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-middlemarch-4811691/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Rebecca Mead's My Life in Middlemarch is a wise, humane, and delightful study of what some regard as the best novel in English. Mead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/rebecca-mead-s-my-life-in-middlemarch-is-a-wise-humane-and-delightful/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [I prayed. God became more than faith. He became knowledge, and I appealed to him. Then I became ashamed. Why hadn't I embraced him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-denton/i-prayed-god-became-more-than-faith-he-became-knowledge-and-i/) [Jeremiah Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah-denton/) > [“I shrugged uncomfortably, leaning my head against hers, almost forgetting Mr. Gardner’s presence as Mo and I fell into that sort of exclusionary, near-telepathic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-c-gormley/i-shrugged-uncomfortably-leaning-my-head-against-hers-almost/) [Amelia C. Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-c-gormley/) > [He often envied people who hadn't read his favourite books. They had such happiness before them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-finch/he-often-envied-people-who-hadn-t-read-his-favourite-books-they-had/) [Charles Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-finch/) > [“He felt overwelmed when he thought of all the books he hadn't read, all the books he wanted to read, and all the books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-grayson/he-felt-overwelmed-when-he-thought-of-all-the-books-he-hadn-t-read/) [Kristine Grayson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-grayson/) > [Yeah I was aware of the book, but hadn't read it. So as soon as I'd finished the script, I got a copy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bana/yeah-i-was-aware-of-the-book-but-hadn-t-read-it-so-as-soon-as-i-d/) [Eric Bana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bana/) > [We knew a little bit about Carol Danvers, but we certainly hadn't read all the comics and didn't know all her history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-boden/we-knew-a-little-bit-about-carol-danvers-but-we-certainly-hadn-t-read/) [Anna Boden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-boden/) > [One I'm deeply into is Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Team of Rivals." I was the only person in the US who hadn't read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/one-i-m-deeply-into-is-doris-kearns-goodwin-s-team-of-rivals-i-was/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [I hadn't read the Dr. Strange comics growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-mcadams/i-hadn-t-read-the-dr-strange-comics-growing-up/) [Rachel McAdams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-mcadams/) > [Even though I hadn't read a word of it, I grew up hating 'Moby-Dick.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-philbrick/even-though-i-hadn-t-read-a-word-of-it-i-grew-up-hating-moby-dick/) [Nathaniel Philbrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-philbrick/) > [If I hadn't read all of Jane Austen and DH Lawrence, Tolstoy and Proust, as well as the more fun stuff, I wouldn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-faulks/if-i-hadn-t-read-all-of-jane-austen-and-dh-lawrence-tolstoy-and/) [Sebastian Faulks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-faulks/) > [I was a huge fan of 'Game Of Thrones.' I hadn't read the books but had watched the series from the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalie-emmanuel/i-was-a-huge-fan-of-game-of-thrones-i-hadn-t-read-the-books-but-had/) [Nathalie Emmanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalie-emmanuel/) > [I am very bad at remembering the books I've read and so recently I had a wonderful experience. I decided I wanted to teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-hunt/i-am-very-bad-at-remembering-the-books-i-ve-read-and-so-recently-i/) [Samantha Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-hunt/) > [He made me think of all the books I hadn't read, and all the ones I'd read but hadn't fully understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/he-made-me-think-of-all-the-books-i-hadn-t-read-and-all-the-ones-i-d/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) > [“Sane people did what their neighbours did, so that if any lunatics were at large, one might know and avoid them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/sane-people-did-what-their-neighbours-did-so-that-if-any-lunatics/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) ## More by Stephen Dobyns > [Love doesn't need a reason. Hate needs a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/love-doesn-t-need-a-reason-hate-needs-a-reason/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [“Isn't that why you want to shoot yourself? To make a protest against change?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/isn-t-that-why-you-want-to-shoot-yourself-to-make-a-protest-against/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [“If he could not find beauty, nothing else would be worth finding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/if-he-could-not-find-beauty-nothing-else-would-be-worth-finding/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [He thinks of that ocean house and wishes he were back in his former life or that one could take one moment and remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/he-thinks-of-that-ocean-house-and-wishes-he-were-back-in-his-former/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [My wife's dying upstairs and I can't do anything about it. I look in her face and I see the memories there. I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/my-wife-s-dying-upstairs-and-i-can-t-do-anything-about-it-i-look-in/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [Other than fiction and poetry I tend to read history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/other-than-fiction-and-poetry-i-tend-to-read-history/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [Each thing I do, I rush through so I can do something else. In such a way do the days pass---a blend of stock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/each-thing-i-do-i-rush-through-so-i-can-do-something-else-in-such-a/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [“A work of art gives testimony to what it is to be a human being. It bears witness, it extracts meaning. A work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/a-work-of-art-gives-testimony-to-what-it-is-to-be-a-human-being-it/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [“It was not that she felt any allegiance to the truth. God knows she had cheated on too many men for the truth to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/it-was-not-that-she-felt-any-allegiance-to-the-truth-god-knows-she/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [I'm reading "The Sunset of a Splendid Century" by W.H. Lewis. He was C.S. Lewis's brother. He wrote two books about the French court…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/i-m-reading-the-sunset-of-a-splendid-century-by-w-h-lewis-he-was-c-s/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [“Each thing I do I rush through so I can do something else.. in such a way do the days pass.. I see all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/each-thing-i-do-i-rush-through-so-i-can-do-something-else-in-such-a-2/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [It was as if pain were a room he had entered and the door had been locked behind him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/it-was-as-if-pain-were-a-room-he-had-entered-and-the-door-had-been/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [Many of my poems try to use a comic element to reach a place that isn't comic at all. The comic element works as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/many-of-my-poems-try-to-use-a-comic-element-to-reach-a-place-that-isn/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [I majored in English in college and that was my major in graduate school before switching to creative writing. I read a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/i-majored-in-english-in-college-and-that-was-my-major-in-graduate/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [Sometimes someone will tell me about an author I've never heard of before and that will send me to that person. That's how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/sometimes-someone-will-tell-me-about-an-author-i-ve-never-heard-of/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) [Explore all 50 Stephen Dobyns quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) ## More Ashamed quotes > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-preston/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-and-you-oughtta-be-ashamed-of-yourself/) [Robert Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-preston/) > [You never meet the writer when you're making a TV movie in America - they're too ashamed to show up and see how their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-don-baker/you-never-meet-the-writer-when-you-re-making-a-tv-movie-in-america/) [Joe Don Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-don-baker/) > [I'm not ashamed of the things I believe and why I believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-not-ashamed-of-the-things-i-believe-and-why-i-believe-them/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“with her own life. And I was ashamed.” Humiliated. Broken. Miserable. If Wilcher had stood by Jaymee, if her father hadn’t berated her, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-green/with-her-own-life-and-i-was-ashamed-humiliated-broken-miserable-if/) [Stacy Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-green/) > [You should avoid hedging, at least that's what I think. You should be ashamed to die until you've made some contribution to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-johns/you-should-avoid-hedging-at-least-that-s-what-i-think-you-should-be/) [Vernon Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-johns/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [“When all are undressed, one is somehow not ashamed, but when one's the only one undressed and everybody is looking, it's degrading,' he kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/when-all-are-undressed-one-is-somehow-not-ashamed-but-when-one-s-the/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/there-are-a-great-many-colored-people-who-are-ashamed-of-the-cake/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [I love him who is ashamed when the dice fall in his favour, and who then asketh: "Am I a dishonest player?" - for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-love-him-who-is-ashamed-when-the-dice-fall-in-his-favour-and-who/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zondervan-publishing/whoever-is-ashamed-of-me-and-my-words-the-son-of-man-will-be-ashamed/) [Zondervan Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zondervan-publishing/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-never-wonder-to-see-men-wicked-but-i-often-wonder-to-see-them-not/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“To survive during the Khmer Rouge, you had to steal, cheat, lie, point fingers at others, even kill. And now you are ashamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-brinkley/to-survive-during-the-khmer-rouge-you-had-to-steal-cheat-lie-point/) [Joel Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-brinkley/) [Browse all 1,607 Ashamed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had not read George Eliot, so read a few. 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