Howards End

by E.M. Forster

“It’s as well to be prepared.” “No—it’s as well not to be prepared.” “Why?” “Because—” Her thought drew being from the obscure borderland. She could not explain in so many words, but she felt that those who prepare for all the emergencies of life beforehand may equip themselves at the expense of joy. It is necessary to prepare for an examination, or a dinner-party, or a possible fall in the price of stock: those who attempt human relations must adopt another method, or fail. “Because I’d sooner risk it,” was her lame conclusion.

Well, it is odd and sad that our minds should be such seed-beds, and we without power to choose the seed.