The function of a book or a poem or a story is to delight, to enchant, to beguile.
Philip PullmanRead
The book is second only to the wheel as the best piece of technology human beings have ever invented. A book symbolises the whole intellectual history of mankind; it's the greatest weapon ever devised in the war against stupidity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Books are among the most important inventions, representing humanity's intellectual advancement and the fight against ignorance.
Philip Pullman's quote emphasizes the transformative power of books and their significance in human history. He argues that books, second only to the wheel, are vital tools in the intellectual development of humanity and serve as the most powerful means in combating ignorance and stupidity. This perspective highlights not only the technological aspect of books but also their role in shaping thoughts, ideas, and society as a whole.
Themes
BooksTechnologyIntellectualHistoryKnowledgeIgnorance
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the importance of literacy in schools, this quote can emphasize the value of books.
More from Philip Pullman
All quotes →Education and health were always matters of charity. You educated children and you helped the sick because they were good things to do, not because you were going to make money out of them. If you let the money-making principle, the profit-seeking motive, anywhere near education and health, things go bad.
Philip PullmanRead
To get the best out of life here ...Good grief. There's plenty of it about, so indulge. Give yourself some thing to remember. Fall in love. Fall out of love. Gamble. Get drunk. See how long you can stay awake. Go for long walks at night. Discover what you're afraid of doing, and then do it.
Philip PullmanRead
People should decide on the books' meanings for themselves. They'll find a story that attacks such things as cruelty, oppression, intolerance, unkindness, narrow-mindedness, and celebrates love, kindness, open-mindedness, tolerance, curiosity, human intelligence.
Philip PullmanRead
I told him I was going to betray you, and betray Lyra, and he believed me because I was corrupt and full of wickedness; he looked so deep I felt sure he'd see the truth. But I lied too well. I was lying with every nerve and fiber and everything I'd ever done...I wanted him to find no good in me, and he didn't. There is none.
Philip PullmanRead
Lyra learns to her great cost that fantasy isn’t enough. She has been lying all her life, telling stories to people, making up fantasies, and suddenly she comes to a point where that’s not enough. All she can do is tell the truth. She tells the truth about her childhood, about the experiences she had in Oxford, and that is what saves her. True experience, not fantasy - reality, not lies - is what saves us in the end.
Philip PullmanRead
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Seldom ever was any knowledge given to keep, but to impart; the grace of this rich jewel is lost in concealment.
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I was too worried about the grades and I should have been more worried about learning.
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I've had a lot of fun, and when I talk to kids in journalism schools, I say, look, I know what the journalism teachers tell you that this is a great way to perform public service and all that, but I say the main reason, if you decide what you want to do is be a reporter, the main reason you want to do it is because it's just so much fun.
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