"An election is coming. Universal peace is declared, and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry"

This quote by George Eliot is a metaphor for the political landscape. It suggests that when an election is coming, there is a sense of peace and consistency in the air. The foxes, representing the political leaders, have a beneficial interest in maintaining the status quo and keeping the people, or poultry, material. This is due to the fact that they want to stay in power and prolong their own lives. The quote indicates that political leaders will make pledges and do something about it that will benefit the people, but ultimately their primary goal is to remain in power. It is a pointer that political leaders are inspired by self-interest and that individuals should know this when voting.