Chapter 5 (at page 41)
β
The lapse of time during which a given event has not happened, is, in this logic of habit, constantly alleged as a reason why the event should never happen, even when the lapse of time is precisely the added condition which makes the event imminent. A man will tell you that he has worked in a mine for forty years unhurt by an accident as a reason why he should apprehend no danger, though the roof is beginning to sink . . .
— George Eliot
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "The lapse of time during which a given event has not happened, is, in this logic of habit, constantly alleged as a reason why the event should never happen, even when the lapse of time is precisely the added condition which makes the event imminent. A man will tell you that he has worked in a mine for forty years unhurt by an accident as a reason why he should apprehend no danger, though the roof is beginning to sink . . ." in the context of "Chapter 5 (at page 41)" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "George Eliot" (Quotes, Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe (1861): Full text online)
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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