In George Eliot's "Middlemarch," the author reflects on how individuals often overlook the small, seemingly insignificant actions in their lives, which she refers to as "trivialities." These minor acts, though dismissed, can become the source of genuine joy and fulfillment. When people neglect these moments, they find themselves in later years regretting the lost potential for happiness and connection that was available to them.

Eliot emphasizes that this neglect leads to a sense of desolation where individuals, upon realizing the consequences of their indifference, lament the absence of joy in their lives. Their failure to acknowledge the value in everyday experiences results in a barren existence, masked by a false sense of wisdom. Ultimately, the novel suggests that meaningful living requires mindfulness and appreciation of life's simple pleasures instead of succumbing to a cycle of denial.