---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But nothing in India is identifiable, the…"
description: "\"But nothing in India is identifiable, the mere asking of a question causes it to disappear or to merge in something else.\" — E. M. Forster"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/e-m-forster-1118_answer_but-nothing-in-india-is-identifiable-the_1757337.png"
---

#  But nothing in India is identifiable, the mere asking of a…

![“But nothing in India is identifiable, the mere asking of a question causes it to disappear or to merge in something else.” quote by E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/e-m-forster-1118_answer_but-nothing-in-india-is-identifiable-the_1757337.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/e-m-forster-1118_answer_but-nothing-in-india-is-identifiable-the_1757337.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/e-m-forster-1118_answer_but-nothing-in-india-is-identifiable-the_1757337.png)

> “But nothing in India is identifiable, the mere asking of a question causes it to disappear or to merge in something else.”

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

In India, asking a question often dissolves it, showing how inquiry can merge with larger contexts.

**In simple terms:** Questions can disappear into the whole.

Key Takeaway

Ask with humility and expect fluid answers.

Themes

culture communication epistemology

Mood

analytical curious

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- cross‑cultural dialogue
- academic research
- conflict resolution
- creative brainstorming

Key Concepts

relativism contextuality

Questions to Reflect On

- How does context shape your questions?
- When might a direct answer be more valuable?

A Different Perspective

Over‑reliance on ambiguity may hinder clear understanding.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer/) [Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Causes Disappear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes-disappear-1624133/) [Disappear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappear/) [Disappear Merge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappear-merge-1660663/) [India](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/india/) [India Identifiable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/india-identifiable-1624131/) [Mere Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere-asking-1624132/) [Question Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-causes-1624134/)

## Related quotes

> [“But nothing in India is identifiable, the mere asking of a question causes it to disappear and merge into something else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/but-nothing-in-india-is-identifiable-the-mere-asking-of-a-question-2/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [“A professor once asked his class to answer the question, “What causes mental illness?” The students wrote the kinds of answers you might expect:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ettensohn/a-professor-once-asked-his-class-to-answer-the-question-what-causes/)

[Mark Ettensohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ettensohn/)

> [Asking the proper question is the central action of transformation- in fairy tales, in analysis, and in individuation. The key question causes germination of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/asking-the-proper-question-is-the-central-action-of-transformation-in/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“What do you read?" I've never given a very satisfactory answer to that question, because it causes a kind of circuit overload in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/what-do-you-read-i-ve-never-given-a-very-satisfactory-answer-to-that/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [I'll answer anything... I'm brutally honest, actually, which gets me in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ll-answer-anything-i-m-brutally-honest-actually-which-gets-me-in/)

[Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/)

> [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [“Those are good questions. I recognize good questions, because I can come up with them myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/those-are-good-questions-i-recognize-good-questions-because-i-can/)

[Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/)

> [A wiki works best where you're trying to answer a question that you can't easily pose, where there's not a natural structure that's known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/a-wiki-works-best-where-you-re-trying-to-answer-a-question-that-you/)

[Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/)

> [Whenever I'm asked about Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, I always answer: 'Neymar is the best,' not just because of his goals but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/whenever-i-m-asked-about-cristiano-ronaldo-or-lionel-messi-i-always/)

[Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/)

> [“There is a cure and answer to everything, we just haven't found them yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-halimi/there-is-a-cure-and-answer-to-everything-we-just-haven-t-found-them/)

[Eve Halimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-halimi/)

> [“And if you can’t say yes, answer anyway. Because I’d rather live with the answer than die with the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ellis/and-if-you-can-t-say-yes-answer-anyway-because-i-d-rather-live-with/)

[Jon Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ellis/)

> [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/)

[Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/)

> [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/)

[Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/)

> [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

## More by E. M. Forster

> [Do not be proud of your inconsistency. It is a pity, it is a pity that we should be equipped like this. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/do-not-be-proud-of-your-inconsistency-it-is-a-pity-it-is-a-pity-that/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Reverence is fatal to literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/reverence-is-fatal-to-literature/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [This element of surprise or mystery - the detective element as it is sometimes rather emptily called - is of great importance in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/this-element-of-surprise-or-mystery-the-detective-element-as-it-is/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [It is so difficult - at least, I find it difficult - to understand people who speak the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/it-is-so-difficult-at-least-i-find-it-difficult-to-understand-people/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Railway termini are our gates to the glorious and the unknown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/railway-termini-are-our-gates-to-the-glorious-and-the-unknown/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Ah, but you see, I didn't want to be fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/ah-but-you-see-i-didn-t-want-to-be-fair/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [The final test for a novel will be our affection for it, as it is the test of our friends, and of anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/the-final-test-for-a-novel-will-be-our-affection-for-it-as-it-is-the/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [America is rather like life. You can usually find in it what you look for It will probably be interesting, and it is sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/america-is-rather-like-life-you-can-usually-find-in-it-what-you-look/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [A critic has no right to the narrowness which is the frequent prerogative of the creative artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/a-critic-has-no-right-to-the-narrowness-which-is-the-frequent/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [All men are equal — all men, that is to say, who possess umbrellas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/all-men-are-equal-all-men-that-is-to-say-who-possess-umbrellas/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Before the civil war, Pottibakia was a normal member of the Comity of Nations. She erected tariff walls, broke treaties, persecuted minorities, obstructed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/before-the-civil-war-pottibakia-was-a-normal-member-of-the-comity-of/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Chess is a forcing house where the fruits of character can ripen more fully than in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/chess-is-a-forcing-house-where-the-fruits-of-character-can-ripen-more/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [I distrust Great Men... I believe in aristocracy, though... Its members are to be found in all nations and classes, and all through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/i-distrust-great-men-i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-its-members-are/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Liking one person is an extra reason for liking another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/liking-one-person-is-an-extra-reason-for-liking-another/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [We are not concerned with the very poor. They are unthinkable, and only to be approached by the statistician or the poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/we-are-not-concerned-with-the-very-poor-they-are-unthinkable-and-only/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

[Explore all 287 E. M. Forster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

## More Answer quotes

> [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/)

[Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/)

> [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/)

[Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/)

> [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [“And if you can’t say yes, answer anyway. Because I’d rather live with the answer than die with the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ellis/and-if-you-can-t-say-yes-answer-anyway-because-i-d-rather-live-with/)

[Jon Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ellis/)

> [“There is a cure and answer to everything, we just haven't found them yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-halimi/there-is-a-cure-and-answer-to-everything-we-just-haven-t-found-them/)

[Eve Halimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-halimi/)

> [Whenever I'm asked about Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, I always answer: 'Neymar is the best,' not just because of his goals but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/whenever-i-m-asked-about-cristiano-ronaldo-or-lionel-messi-i-always/)

[Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/)

> [A wiki works best where you're trying to answer a question that you can't easily pose, where there's not a natural structure that's known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/a-wiki-works-best-where-you-re-trying-to-answer-a-question-that-you/)

[Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/)

> [“Those are good questions. I recognize good questions, because I can come up with them myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/those-are-good-questions-i-recognize-good-questions-because-i-can/)

[Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/)

> [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I'll answer anything... I'm brutally honest, actually, which gets me in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ll-answer-anything-i-m-brutally-honest-actually-which-gets-me-in/)

[Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/)

> [“...I guess I can put two and two together." "Sometimes the answer's four," I said, "and sometimes it's twenty-two...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-guess-i-can-put-two-and-two-together-sometimes-the-answer-s-four-i/)

[Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/)

> [Jumping someone is never the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jumping-someone-is-never-the-answer/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I play along myself, even though I can't help the player. So I can't say what I think the answer might be. But I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-mcguinness/i-play-along-myself-even-though-i-can-t-help-the-player-so-i-can-t/)

[Paddy McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-mcguinness/)

> [Sometimes the question is complicated, but the answers are simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-suess/sometimes-the-question-is-complicated-but-the-answers-are-simple/)

[Dr Suess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-suess/)

[Browse all 2,090 Answer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "But nothing in India is identifiable, the mere asking of a question causes it to disappear or to merge in something else.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "E. M. Forster"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/but-nothing-in-india-is-identifiable-the-mere-asking-of-a-question/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Answer"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/but-nothing-in-india-is-identifiable-the-mere-asking-of-a-question/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/e-m-forster-1118_answer_but-nothing-in-india-is-identifiable-the_1757337.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/e-m-forster-1118_answer_but-nothing-in-india-is-identifiable-the_1757337.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/e-m-forster-1118_answer_but-nothing-in-india-is-identifiable-the_1757337.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“But nothing in India is identifiable, the mere asking of a question causes it to disappear or to merge in…” — E. M. Forster",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "E. M. Forster",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "But nothing in India is identifiable,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/but-nothing-in-india-is-identifiable-the-mere-asking-of-a-question/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/but-nothing-in-india-is-identifiable-the-mere-asking-of-a-question/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
