Middlemarch: Rev. Beatrice Hitchcock

In Middlemarch by George Eliot, Dorothea is speaking to Will about her simple life:

"'...I should like not to have so much more than my share without doing anything for others. But I have a belief of my own, and it comforts me.'

'What is that?' said Will, rather jealous of the belief.

'That by desiring what is perfectly good, even when we don't quite know what it is and cannot do what we would, we are part of the divine power against evil -- widening the skirts of light and making the struggle with darkness narrower.'
...
'Please not to call it by any name,' said Dorothea.... 'You will say it is Persian, or something else geographical. It is my life. I have found it out, and cannot part with it. I have always been finding out my religion since I was a little girl. I used to pray so much -- now I hardly ever pray. I try not to have desires merely for myself, because they may not be good for others, and I have too much already....'

'What is your religion?' said Dorothea. 'I mean -- not what you know about religion, but the belief that helps you most?'"