In George Eliot's "Middlemarch," Fred exhibits a sense of self-assurance when it comes to managing his financial responsibilities. Despite having sufficient funds at his disposal, his confidence relies more on a hopeful disposition than on tangible realities. This idea suggests that confidence can sometimes stem from an internal sense of worth or expectation rather than from factual circumstances.

The passage highlights the complexities of human confidence, suggesting that it can be shaped by our beliefs about luck, the nature of providence, and an inflated sense of our own value. This comfortable yet potentially misguided disposition leads individuals to anticipate positive outcomes, which might not always align with reality, especially in matters of style and personal choices.