It would be a poor result of all our anguish and our wrestling if we won nothing but our old selves at the end of it--if we could return to the same blind loves, the same self-confident blame, the same light thoughts of human suffering, the same frivolous gossip over blighted human lives, the same feeble sense of the Unknown towards which we have sent forth irrepressible cries in our loneliness. Let us rather be thankful that our sorrow lives in us as an indestructable force, only changing its form, as forces do, and passing from pain into sympathy--the one poor word which includes all our best insight and our best love.
In George Eliot's "Adam Bede," the author reflects on the profound impact of suffering on the human experience. She emphasizes that enduring anguish should not lead us back to our previous ignorance or superficiality. It would be detrimental to emerge from hardship unchanged, clinging to naive loves and lighthearted judgments about the suffering of others. Eliot urges us to recognize the possibility of growth through these experiences rather than reverting to our old ways.
Moreover, Eliot reassures us that sadness can transform into a deep, enduring force within us. Rather than being merely painful, sorrow can evolve into empathy and understanding, enriching our insights and love for others. This transformation signifies a meaningful journey through suffering, suggesting that our pain can lead to a more profound connection with humanity and the unknown, rather than remaining a source of isolation.
