Children Quote by E.M. Forster
““Your mistake is this, and it is a very common mistake. This young bounder has a life of his own. What right have you to conclude it is an unsuccessful life, or, as you call it, 'grey'?" "Because—" "One minute. You know nothing about him. He probably has his own joys and interests—wife, children, snug little home. That's where we practical fellows" he smiled—"are more tolerant than you intellectuals. We live and let live, and assume that things are jogging on fairly well elsewhere, and that the ordinary plain man may be trusted to look after his own affairs. I quite grant—I look at the faces of the clerks in my own office, and observe them to be dull, but I don't know what's going on beneath.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Passage to India, 1924
Warns against judging others without understanding their personal lives; promotes tolerance and non‑interference.
In simple terms: Don’t judge others without knowing them.
Key Takeaway
Respect others’ privacy.
Themes
tolerance
judgment
privacy
Mood
thoughtful
contemplative
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- workplace interactions
- community living
- family dynamics
Key Concepts
social ethics
human dignity
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions do you make about strangers?
- How can you balance involvement with respect for privacy?
A Different Perspective
May be overly idealistic about “live and let live.”
