The quote from George Eliot's "Adam Bede" reflects the tendency of people to gauge Divine love based on their understanding of sinfulness. It suggests that individuals often misinterpret the extent and nature of divine compassion by equating it with human knowledge or awareness of wrongdoing. This perspective highlights a fundamental disconnect in how love, especially divine love, is perceived and valued in relation to human understanding.

This idea resonates with the notion that Divine love is vast and unconditional, existing beyond human comprehension. It invites readers to consider that one's depth of knowledge about sin does not necessarily correlate with the magnitude of divine grace. Rather than limiting divine love to human standards, the quote encourages a broader interpretation that embraces forgiveness and acceptance, regardless of one's moral awareness.