Personal relations are the important thing for ever and ever, and not this outer life of telegrams and anger.
E. M. ForsterRead
The four characteristics of humanism are curiosity, a free mind, belief in good taste, and belief in the human race.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Humanism emphasizes the importance of curiosity, freedom of thought, appreciation for aesthetics, and faith in humanity.
E. M. Forster's quote highlights the core characteristics of humanism as crucial elements that define a positive human experience. It suggests that curiosity drives knowledge and understanding, a free mind allows for the exploration of ideas beyond conventional boundaries, good taste cultivates an appreciation of beauty and quality, and an inherent belief in the goodness of humanity fosters hope and cooperation among people.
Themes
HumanismCuriosityFreedomGoodnessTaste
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on human values, I shared this quote to emphasize the importance of curiosity in education.
More from E. M. Forster
All quotes →A 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.
E. M. ForsterRead
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.
E. M. ForsterRead
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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