In George Eliot's "Middlemarch," the character Will demonstrates a strong desire to be generous and kind to others. However, despite his noble intentions, he often finds himself speaking impulsively, which undermines his efforts to express kindness. This suggests that while one may have the desire to act well, our words can betray those intentions before we can fully execute them.
Eliot highlights the tension between intention and action, illustrating how easy it is to let our unfiltered thoughts slip out. This reflection on human behavior presents a challenge; even the best of intentions can be thwarted by a moment's lack of restraint. Thus, the quote reminds readers of the importance of mindfulness in our speech to truly reflect our goodwill towards others.