Very notable was his distinction between coarseness and vulgarity, coarseness, revealing something; vulgarity, concealing something.

Quote by E M Forster

Topics: E M Forster Quotes

Spoon feeding in the long run teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon.

Spoon feeding in the long run teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon.

Ideas are fatal to caste.

Ideas are fatal to caste.

Liking one person is an extra reason for liking another.

Liking one person is an extra reason for liking another.

I am so used to seeing the sort of play which deals with one man...

I am so used to seeing the sort of play which deals with one man...

One marvels why the middle classes still insist on so much discomfort for their children...

One marvels why the middle classes still insist on so much discomfort for their children...

At the side of the everlasting why, is a yes, and a yes, and a...

At the side of the everlasting why, is a yes, and a yes, and a...

I suggest that the only books that influence us are those for which we are...

I suggest that the only books that influence us are those for which we are...

For our vanity is such that we hold our own characters immutable, and we are...

For our vanity is such that we hold our own characters immutable, and we are...

The people I respect most behave as if they were immortal and as if society...

The people I respect most behave as if they were immortal and as if society...

Either life entails courage, or it ceases to be life.

Either life entails courage, or it ceases to be life.

If there is on earth a house with many mansions, it is the house of...

If there is on earth a house with many mansions, it is the house of...

Logic! Good gracious! What rubbish!

Logic! Good gracious! What rubbish!

The historian must have some conception of how men who are not historians behave. Otherwise...

The historian must have some conception of how men who are not historians behave. Otherwise...

Surely the only sound foundation for a civilization is a sound state of mind.

Surely the only sound foundation for a civilization is a sound state of mind.

A poem is true if it hangs together. Information points to something else. A poem...

A poem is true if it hangs together. Information points to something else. A poem...

Books have to be read (worse luck it takes so long a time). It is...

Books have to be read (worse luck it takes so long a time). It is...

The work of art assumes the existence of the perfect spectator, and is indifferent to...

The work of art assumes the existence of the perfect spectator, and is indifferent to...

The four characteristics of humanism are curiosity, a free mind, belief in good taste, and...

The four characteristics of humanism are curiosity, a free mind, belief in good taste, and...

Oxford is Oxford: not a mere receptacle for youth, like Cambridge. Perhaps it wants its...

Oxford is Oxford: not a mere receptacle for youth, like Cambridge. Perhaps it wants its...

History develops, art stands still.

History develops, art stands still.