“Live in fragments no longer, only connect.”

― E.M. Forster

Edward Morgan Forster (January 1, 1879 – June 7, 1970) was an English author. He is best known for his novels, particularly A Room with a View, Howards End and A Passage to India. He also wrote numerous short stories, essays, speeches and broadcasts, as well as biographies and pageant plays. Wikipedia

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E.M. Forster’s famous quote, “Only connect,” from Howards End, signifies the imperative to bridge divisions—between mind and heart, reality and feeling, individual and society—to achieve a more integrated and authentic existence. It calls for the connection of the “prose” (external, rational life) with the “passion” (internal, emotional life) to exalt both and achieve true human love and unity, while also addressing the difficulties of connection amidst social and technological change.  

Key Meanings of “Only Connect”

• Inner and Outer Life: The quote asks for a unified self that connects the cerebral (“prose”) with the emotional (“passion”). 
• Social Connection: It encourages linking different social classes and individuals, a central theme in Howards End where people from diverse backgrounds struggle to understand and unite with one another. 
• Humanity and Technology: In a broader sense, it critiques the isolating nature of technological advancement, suggesting a need to maintain authentic human connection despite modern communication and machines. 
• Integral Existence: The ultimate goal is to move beyond fragmented lives (“Live in fragments no longer”) and achieve a holistic existence where different aspects of life and different people are interwoven. 

Context within Howards End

• Margaret’s Sermon: The phrase originates from Margaret Schlegel, who sees the struggle to connect as a pervasive problem in Victorian and Edwardian society. 
• Foreshadowing Modern Issues: Forster’s use of the quote in 1910 was prescient, as the challenges of making authentic connections in an increasingly fragmented and technologically advanced world remain highly relevant today. 

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