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A poem is true if it hangs together. Information points to something else. A poem points to nothing but itself.

E. M. Forster

Creative writers are always greater than the causes that they represent.
E. M. FORSTER

Always Cause Creative Greater Represent Writer
Most of life is so dull that there is nothing to be said about it, and the books and talks that would describe it as interesting are obliged to exaggerate, in the hope of justifying their own existence.
E. M. FORSTER

Book Describe Dull Exaggerate Interesting Life Most Nothing Obliged Talk
But Humanity, in its desire for comfort, had over-reached itself. It had exploited the riches of nature too far. Quietly and complacently, it was sinking into decadence, and progress had come to mean the progress of the Machine.
E. M. FORSTER

Comfort Desire Humanity Itself Over Reach
Let yourself go. Pull out from the depths those thoughts that you do not understand, and spread them out in the sunlight and know the meaning of them.
E. M. FORSTER

Depth Let Meaning Pull Sunlight Thought Understand Yourself
I can only do what’s easy. I can only entice and be enticed. I can’t, and won’t, attempt difficult relations. If I marry it will either be a man who’s strong enough to boss me or whom I’m strong enough to boss.
E. M. FORSTER

Attempt Can Difficult Easy Entice Only Relation
Don’t begin with proportion. Only prigs do that. Let proportion come in as a last resource, when the better things have failed.
E. M. FORSTER

Better Come Fail Last Proportion Resource Thing
Give, do not lend; after death who will thank you?
E. M. FORSTER

After Death Give Tend Thank You
Aziz winked at him slowly and said: “…There are many ways of being a man; mine is to express what is deepest in my heart.
E. M. FORSTER

Aziz Being Express Heart Man Many Mine Slowly Way Wink
The final test for a novel will be our affection for it, as it is the test of our friends, and of anything else which we cannot define.
E. M. FORSTER

Anything Define Effective Else Final Friend Novel Test Tet
Think before you speak is criticism’s motto; speak before you think, creation’s.
E. M. FORSTER

Before Creation Criticism Motto Sepak Speak Think
It’s not what people do to you, but what they mean, that hurts.
E. M. FORSTER

Hurt Mean People
Death destroys a man, but the idea of death saves him.
E. M. FORSTER

Death Destroy Idea Man Save
If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country.
E. M. FORSTER

Betraying Between Chosen Country Friend Gut Hope
My temple stands not upon Mount Moriah but in the Elysian Field where even the immoral are admitted. My motto is ‘Lord, I disbelieve – help thou my unbelief.
E. M. FORSTER

Admit Country Disbelieve Motto People Person Stand Temple Unbelief
We cast a shadow on something wherever we stand, and it is no good moving from place to place to save things; because the shadow always follows. Choose a place where you won’t do harm – yes, choose a place where you won’t do very much harm, and stand in it for all you are worth, facing the sunshine.
E. M. FORSTER

Cast Follow Good Move Place Save Shadow Something Stand Thing
People have their own deaths as well as their own lives, and even if there is nothing beyond death, we shall differ in our nothingness.
E. M. FORSTER

Beyond Death Differ Live Nothing Nothingness Own People Shall

A poem is true if it hangs together. Information points to something else. A poem points to nothing but itself.

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A poem is true if it hangs together. Information points to something else. A poem points to nothing but itself.

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Popular Authors

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