“I'm proof against that word failure.…” — George Eliot

I'm proof against that word failure. I've seen behind it. The only failure a man ought to fear is failure of cleaving to the purpose he sees to be best.

— George Eliot (1819–1880), Felix Holt, the Radical (1866)

Courage and overcoming setbacks

What it means

The only failure worth fearing is giving up on the purpose you believe is best. Outcomes matter less than staying true to what is right.

About the author

George Eliot — English novelist and poet (1819–1880).

Source and verification

Source: Felix Holt, the Radical (1866)
Reference: George Eliot on Wikiquote
Checked: Wording and source taken from the sourced section of the author’s Wikiquote page, which cites the work given here (accessed 2026-10-11).
Copyright: Public domain: the author died in 1880.

The explanation above is ToDoMatriX’s own reading of the quote, not the author’s words.

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