Show The Influence of Writers I wish you thoroughly to understand that the writers who have most profoundly influenced mewho have rolled away the waters from their bed raised new mountains moun-tains and spread delicious valleys for me are not in the least oracles to me It is just possible that I may not embrace one of their opinions that I may wish my life to be shaped quite differently from theirs For instance it would signify nothing to me if a very wise person were to stun me with proof that Rosseaus views of life religion and government are miserably miser-ably neouRthat he was guilty of smt of the wqrt base esses that have degraded civilized man I might admit all this and it would not be the less true that Kosseaus genius has sent the electric elec-tric thrill through my intellectual and mortal frame which has awakened me to new perceptions l which has made man and nature a fresh world of thought and feeling to me and this is not by teaching me any new belief It is simply that the rushing mighty vind of his inspiration has so quickened mv faculties that I have been able to shape l more definitely for myself ideas wInch had previously dwelt as dim Ah nungen in my soul the fire of his genius has so fused together the old thoughts 1I1l11rejuices that I have been ready to make new combinations George Eliot |