Personal relations are the important thing for ever and ever, and not this outer life of telegrams and anger.
E. M. ForsterRead
Creative writers are always greater than the causes that they represent.
Interpretation
Creative writers transcend the themes and issues they write about, showcasing their talent and perspective.
E. M. Forsterβs quote emphasizes the inherent superiority of creative writers over the subjects they depict. It suggests that a writerβs skill, imagination, and unique expression elevate their work beyond the mere representation of causes, issues, or narratives, establishing them as true creators rather than just commentators on the world.
In practice
During a creative writing workshop, this quote can inspire participants to embrace their individuality as writers.
Personal relations are the important thing for ever and ever, and not this outer life of telegrams and anger.
A poem is true if it hangs together. Information points to something else. A poem points to nothing but itself.
One must be fond of people and trust them if one is not to make a mess of life.
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.
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.
One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested.
Freaks was a thing I photographed a lot. It was one of the first things I photographed and it had a terrific kind of excitement for me. I just used to adore them. I still do adore some of them. I don't quite mean they're my best friends but they made me feel a mixture of shame and awe.
I haven't stopped painting or drawing - I've just added another medium.
What I notice is that every adult or child I give a new set of Crayolas to goes a little funny. The kids smile, get a glazed look on their faces, pour the crayons out, and just look at them for a while....The adults always get the most wonderful kind of sheepish smile on their faces--a mixture of delight and nostalgia and silliness. And they immediately start telling you about all their experiences with Crayolas.
I'm creating an imaginary β it's always imaginary β world in which I would like to live.
The arts make vivid the fact that words do not, in their literal form or number, exhaust what we can know. The limits of our language do not define the limits of our cognition.
I would rather write or record something great and have it overlooked than do mediocre work and have it be popular.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.