Personal relations are the important thing for ever and ever, and not this outer life of telegrams and anger.
E. M. ForsterRead
Works of art, in my opinion, are the only objects in the material universe to possess internal order, and that is why, though I don't believe that only art matters, I do believe in Art for Art's sake.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the intrinsic value of art, suggesting that it has a unique order that separates it from other material objects.
E. M. Forster's quote highlights the idea that art holds a special place in the material universe due to its internal order and coherence. While he acknowledges that art is not the only thing that matters, he argues for the importance of appreciating art for its own sake, appreciating its beauty and structure without necessarily assigning it utility or purpose beyond itself.
Themes
ArtValueInternal OrderBeautyExpression
In practice
Example use cases
During a gallery opening, you might quote this to highlight the essence of appreciating art beyond its functionality.
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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