Saints and martyrs had never interested Maggie so much as sages and poets. - George Eliot

I've never any pity for conceited people, because I think they carry their comfort about with them.

That big muscular frame of his held plenty of animal courage, but helped him to no decision when the dangers to be braved were such as could neither be knocked down nor throttled.

He had a sense that the old man meant to be good-natured and neighbourly; but the kindness fell on him as sunshine falls on the wretched — he had no heart to taste it, and felt that it was very far off him.