A woman may get to love by degrees–the best fire does not flare up the soonest.

George Eliot
About This Quote

The best fire does not flare up the soonest is a phrase that describes Sigmund Freud’s theory of how women fall in love. He believed that women fall in love by degrees. They are attracted to someone initially, but are hesitant to admit it. This is because they are afraid of being rejected if their feelings are not returned. Eventually, though, they come to realize that they have fallen for their lover and express their feelings to them, regardless of whether the other person reciprocates.

Source: Adam Bede

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