Personal relations are the important thing for ever and ever, and not this outer life of telegrams and anger.
E. M. ForsterRead
Neanderthal man listened to stories, if one may judge by the shape of his skull. The primitive audience was an audience of shock-heads, gaping around the camp-fire, fatigued with contending against the mammoth or wooly-rhinoceros, and only kept awake by suspense. What would happen next? The novelist droned on, and as soon as the audience guessed what happened next, they either fell asleep or killed him.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the ancient origins of storytelling and the vital role it played in engaging audiences.
E. M. Forster's quote explores the historical significance of storytelling, suggesting that early human beings were captivated by narratives as a means to escape their harsh realities. It emphasizes the idea that storytelling is an intrinsic part of human culture, and that a storyteller's ability to maintain suspense is crucial; once the audience anticipates the end of a tale, their engagement wanes, illustrating the delicate balance in the art of narration.
Themes
StorytellingAudienceNarrativeSuspenseEngagement
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of storytelling in education, one could use this quote to illustrate its historical significance.
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.
E. M. ForsterRead
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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