Fielding lived when the days were longer {for time, like money, is measured by our needs}, when summer afternoons were spacious, and the clock ticked slowly in the winter evenings.
In the quote from George Eliot's works, the author reflects on a time when life seemed to move at a slower pace. Fielding's era is described as one where the length of days felt bountiful, mirroring a sense of abundance in both time and nature. The expansive summer afternoons and leisurely winter evenings create an image of a world unhurried by modern pressures, highlighting the connection between the perception of time and individual needs.
This notion suggests that our experience of time is not solely governed by the ticking of the clock but is also deeply influenced by how we value and utilize our moments. In Fielding's time, time and money seemed to align more closely with human desires, allowing people to savor life's offerings rather than rushing through them. Eliot's observation prompts us to consider how contemporary life might benefit from a similar appreciation of time's potential, inviting reflection on our own relationship with it.