Twice within the past two weeks while reading (different books) I have come across the phrase “only connect”. In neither case was the original reference cited or its meaning expounded upon. The implication was that the term, its origin and meaning should be well-known to any literate individual. Well, I must be semi-literate, 'cause I’d never heard of it before. Anybody know where it comes from?
It’s a recurring phrase in E M Forster’s novel, Howard’s End. What it means is open to interpretation and pretty difficult to explain, but if you don’t want to read the book (though I would recommend it) there must be a Forster website out there that will give you an idea, or even an Amazon review.
Sure Tom:
http://www.10digital.com/JYW/Forster/
It’s called Only Connect, the official site for him. Weird.
This phrase from Forster becomes a kind of motto in A S Byatt’s novel “Babel Tower”. It sounds profound, and it means pretty much whatever you want it to mean.
The passage, as cited, is from E.M. Forster’s book “Howard’s End”, which happens to be my husband’s favorite passage from his favorite book. We even used it in our wedding for the lighting of the Unity candle.
The passage (and I’m not sure of the punctuation) goes:
“Only connect. That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and life will be exalted, and human love will reach its height. Only connect, and the beast and the monk, robbed of the isolation that is life to either, will die.”