Friendship Quote by E.M. Forster
““You mean that a Frenchman could share with a friend and yet not go to prison?’ ‘Share? Do you mean unite? If both are of age and avoid public indecency, certainly.’ ‘Will the law ever be that in England?’ ‘I doubt it. England has always been disinclined to accept human nature.””
About This Quote
A satirical dialogue exposing the tension between private desire and public morality, questioning whether societies can tolerate consensual intimacy without criminalizing it.
In simple terms: Critique of legal hypocrisy toward sexuality.
Key Takeaway
Law lags behind human nature.
Themes
Sexuality
Legalism
Social hypocrisy
Individual freedom
Cultural relativism
Mood
Wry
Reflective
Type
Dialogue
Satire
When to use this quote
- A private conversation about same‑sex intimacy
- Debate over decriminalizing consensual acts
- Contrast between French and English attitudes
Key Concepts
Consent
Public indecency
Moral standards
Practical Applications
- Legal reform advocacy
- Cultural criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do societies balance personal liberty with public morality?
- What factors cause legal systems to resist change?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that law must reflect prevailing moral norms, not individual preferences.
