Who said "A gaze is not in itself power unless backed by opinion."?

This quote is attributed to Thomas Hardy.

A gaze is not in itself power unless backed by opinion. - Thomas Hardy

"A gaze is not in itself power unless backed by opinion."

Thomas Hardy Power

Novelist Poet English 1840–1928

"The greatest poverty is not to live in a beautiful world."

"Life offers to none a charm that is permanent, the inevitable effect of time is to degrade and destroy."

"Love is a great beautifier."

"There is no greater thing than to be somebody's reason to smile."

"Power without control is just destruction."

"Power is not about control, it's about influence"

"The world doesn't need me to be the hero. It just needs me to be dangerous."

"The claws come out when I need them to."