How seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves.
Thomas A KempisRead
A book has but one voice, but it does not instruct everyone alike.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A book communicates a singular message, yet each reader interprets it differently.
This quote highlights the unique relationship between a reader and a book, suggesting that while the text presents a consistent voice, the interpretation is subject to the individual experiences, thoughts, and emotions of each reader. It emphasizes that literature has the power to resonate differently with each person based on their personal context, thereby fostering diverse understandings and insights.
Themes
BooksInterpretationKnowledgeReadingUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of literature, one could use the quote to emphasize personal interpretation.
More from Thomas A Kempis
All quotes βHe will easily be content and at peace, whose conscience is pure.
Thomas A KempisRead
Trust not to your feelings for whatever they might be now, they will quickly be changed towards some other thing.
Thomas A KempisRead
Jesus has many who love the kingdom of God, but few who bear a cross. He has many who desire His comfort, but few who desire His suffering. All want to rejoice with him, but few are willing to suffer for Him. He writes; there are many who admire his miracles, but there are few who follow in the humiliation of the cross.
Thomas A KempisRead
Anyone who thinks hard work will never hurt you has never had to pay to have it done. Jesus now has many lovers of his Heavenly Kingdom, but few bearers of his cross.
Thomas A KempisRead
He has great tranquillity of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men. He will easily be content and pacified, whose conscience is pure. You are not holier if you are praised, nor the more worthless if you are found fault with. What you are, that you are; neither by word can you be made greater than what you are in the sight of God.
Thomas A KempisRead
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Books, books, books in all their aspects, in form and spirit, their physical selves and what reading releases from their hieroglyphic pages, in their sight and smell, in their touch and feel to the questing hand, and in the intellectual music which they sing to the thoughtful brain and loving heart, books are to me the best of all symbols, the realest of all reality.
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