Personal relations are the important thing for ever and ever, and not this outer life of telegrams and anger.
E. M. ForsterRead
The armour of falsehood is subtly wrought out of darkness, and hides a man not only from others, but from his own soul.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Falsehood protects individuals but ultimately distances them from their true selves.
E. M. Forster's quote suggests that deceit creates a protective shield that not only obscures a person's true nature from others but also prevents them from understanding themselves. This 'armour of falsehood' can be alluring, yet it leads to a profound disconnection from one's own soul, implying the necessity for honesty in self-exploration and interpersonal relationships.
Themes
FalsehoodTruthSoulSelf-DiscoveryHonesty
In practice
Example use cases
This quote is perfect for a discussion on personal integrity and self-awareness in a philosophy class.
More from E. M. Forster
All quotes βA poem is true if it hangs together. Information points to something else. A poem points to nothing but itself.
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One must be fond of people and trust them if one is not to make a mess of life.
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Oxford is Oxford: not a mere receptacle for youth, like Cambridge. Perhaps it wants its inmates to love it rather than to love one another.
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The fact is we can only love what we know personally. And we cannot know much. In public affairs, in the rebuilding of civilization, something less dramatic and emotional is needed, namely tolerance.
E. M. ForsterRead
One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested.
E. M. ForsterRead
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