Quote by George Eliot
A woman's heart must be of such a size and no larger, else it must be pressed small, like Chinese feet; her happiness is to be made as cakes are, by a fixed receipt.
Summary
This quote expresses the societal expectation placed on women to conform to specific roles and behave in certain ways. It implies that a woman's heart (emotions and desires) should fit within narrow boundaries and not exceed societal norms. The comparison to Chinese feet highlights the idea of physically constraining and reshaping something natural. Additionally, it suggests that a woman's happiness is predetermined and should be attained by following a predetermined formula or set of instructions, rather than allowing her to explore her own individuality and define her own path to happiness.
By George Eliot