There is nothing so costly as ignorance.
Horace MannRead
While the books I read as a child lacked diversity in the strict sense, they didn't lack values. Reading, I didn't see me externally, but I felt me - my humanity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of values in literature, suggesting that personal connection and humanity can transcend diversity.
Jewell Parker Rhodes reflects on her childhood reading experiences, noting that while the books may not have represented a diverse range of characters or backgrounds, they still instilled important values. She highlights that the essence of reading is not solely about external representation, but rather about connecting to universal human experiences and emotions, allowing one to feel a sense of humanity that transcends race and identity.
Themes
ReadingValuesHumanityDiversityLiterature
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the role of literature in shaping values during childhood.
Similar quotes
We teach children to save their money. As an attempt to counteract thoughtless and selfish expenditure, that has value. But it is not positive; it does not lead the child into the safe and useful avenues of self-expression or self-expenditure. To teach a child to invest and use is better than to teach him to save.
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Teenagers have more intense reading experiences because they've had fewer of them. It's like the first time you fall in love. You have a connection to that first person you fell in love with because it was so intense and unprecedented.
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Heart and head are the constituent parts of character; temperament has almost nothing to do with it, and, therefore, character is dependent upon education, and is susceptible of being corrected and improved.
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J. D. SalingerRead
Access to quality education has enabled me to reach far beyond the Bangladeshi village I grew up in.
Muhammad YunusRead