Tolerance E.M. Forster

Introduction:
E.M. Forster writes about the virtue needed most in the post-war world. According to him, its not ‘love’ as many might advocate, but, ‘tolerance’ which is needed to rebuild the world torn by World war.

Reconstruction:
People talk of rebuilding the world or reconstructing the civilization after the war. Such a task is not possible unless there is right attitude towards it. To rebuild the civilization, Forster says, “Architects, contractors, international commissioners, marketing boards, broadcasting corporations will never, by themselves, build a new world. They must be inspired by the proper spirit…”. A beautiful London cannot be built unless the residents want it, or have the right attitude.

Love:
What is the most important virtue needed in a post-war world? Most people would say ‘Love’. Forster does not agree with it and says’ “Love is a great force in private life: it is indeed the greatest of all things; but love in public affairs does not work…” The Christian Civilizations during the Middle Ages and the French Revolutionists tried it but failed. Nations and peoples should love one another is an absurd and dangerous idea. ‘The fact is we can love only what we know personally’.

Tolerance:
Forster says, “Tolerance is a very dull virtue. It is boring. Unlike love, it has always had a bad press. It is negative. It merely means putting up with people, being able to stand things….”
But, ‘Tolerance’ is the virtue we need today. That is the right attitude needed to rebuild the post-war world. As races and people there are so many things we do not like in each other. We have to put up with these. We have to tolerate.


Two solutions:
In this over-crowded world the people are tumbling over each other. Most of these people don’t know each other. So, the ‘Love’ and ‘Tolerance’ modes will not work in these circumstances. For that, the author gives two solutions, “One of them is Nazi solution. If you don’t like people, kill them, banish them, segregate them… the other way is much less thrilling… and I prefer it. If you don’t like people, put up with them as well as you can. Don’t try to love them: you cant, you’ll only strain yourself. But, try to tolerate them….”


Need of tolerance:
He stresses the importance of tolerance again and again. He says, “Tolerance is wanted in the queue…it is wanted at the telephone, it is wanted in the street, in the office, at the factory, and it is wanted above all between classes, races, and nations….”

Great persons:
He names few great persons who taught the importance of tolerance. They are Emperor Asoka from India, Erasmus from Holland, Montaigne from France, John Locke from England, Lowes Dickinson writer of A Modern Symposium, etc..

Conclusion:
He concludes this essay by saying, “Tolerance is not the same as weakness. Putting up with people does not mean giving in to them. Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain who build it. Perhaps when the house is completed, love will enter in and the greatest force in our private lives will also rule in public”.

See also E.M.Forster - Biography timeline and point by point