Quote by George Eliot
If we had a keen vision and feeling of all ordinary human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow and the squirrel's heart beat, and we should die of that roar which lies on the other side of silence.
Summary
This quote suggests that if we were fully and intensely aware of every aspect of everyday human existence, it would overwhelm us. The comparison of hearing the grass grow and the squirrel's heartbeat reflects the idea of perceiving even the smallest and most subtle details of life. However, it suggests that this extraordinary level of sensory perception would become unbearable. The "roar which lies on the other side of silence" implies that this intense awareness would lead to an overpowering noise, implying an overwhelming and potentially fatal experience.
Topics
Silence
By George Eliot