"Marriage must be a relation either of sympathy or of conquest"
- George Eliot
About this Quote
George Eliot's quote recommends that marriage is a relationship in between two individuals that is either based on good understanding and support, or among dominance and control. The idea of marriage as a "conquest" implies that one partner is trying to subdue the other, while the idea of marital relationship as a "sympathy" suggests that the 2 partners are interacting in consistency. This quote suggests that a successful marriage is one in which both partners are on equal footing and are working together to construct a strong and enduring relationship. It likewise suggests that a marital relationship based upon domination and control is destined stop working, as it is not built on a structure of mutual regard and understanding. Ultimately, George Eliot's quote suggests that an effective marital relationship is one in which both partners are collaborating in consistency and understanding.
"I think the Mother is gradually revealing itself to me and taking over. But it is not the Mother alone. It is the Mother and the Father, the male and the female, sort of gradually having their marriage"