Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Only Connect...


Only Connect! George has suggested it is a good AT&T slogan so the E.M. Forster Estate may want to look into negotiating with them. But E.M. Forster perhaps had loftier notions for the phrase. I just re-read Howards End.
So many clever things in it.
"Pity was at the bottom of her actions all through this crisis. Pity, if one may generalize, is at the bottom of woman. When men like us, it is for our better qualities, and however their liking, we dare not be unworthy of it, or they will quietly let us go. But unworthiness stimulates woman. It brings out her deeper nature, for good or for evil."
"So deep already was her sympathy that when he said, 'I am asking you to be my wife" she made herself give a little start. She must show surprise if he expected it. It was indescribable. It had nothing to do with humanity, and most resembled the all pervading happiness of fine weather. Fine weather is due the sun, but Margaret could think of no central radiance here. She stood in his drawing room happy, and longing to give happiness. On leaving him she realized that the central radiance had been love." (italics mine)
"Charles and Tibby met at Ducie Street, where the latter was staying. Their interview was short and absurd. They had nothing in common but the English language, and tried by its help to express what neither of them understood."
Oh E.M. was a clever clever man!!!

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