George Eliot, in Silas Marner (1861)
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In old days there were angels who came and took men by the hand and led them away from the city of destruction. We see no white-winged angels now. But yet men are led away from threatening destruction: a hand is put into theirs, which leads them forth gently towards a calm and bright land, so that they look no more backward; and the hand may be a little child's.'''
— George Eliot on Now
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "In old days there were angels who came and took men by the hand and led them away from the city of destruction. We see no white-winged angels now. But yet men are led away from threatening destruction: a hand is put into theirs, which leads them forth gently towards a calm and bright land, so that they look no more backward; and the hand may be a little child's.'''" in the context of "George Eliot, in Silas Marner (1861)" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Now" (E)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About George Eliot
George Eliot (born Mary Ann Evans; 22 November 1819 β 22 December 1880) was an English novelist and poet. Despite the strong social customs of her times against such arrangements, she lived unmarried with fellow writer George Henry Lewesββ for over 20 years.
About George Eliot
George Eliot (born Mary Ann Evans; 22 November 1819 β 22 December 1880) was an English novelist and poet. Despite the strong social customs of her times against such arrangements, she lived unmarried with fellow writer George Henry Lewesββ for over 20 years.
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