I read books when I was a kid, lots of books. Books always seemed like magic to me. They took you to the most amazing places. When I got older, I realized that I couldn't find books that took me to all of the places I wanted to go. To go to those places, I had to write some books myself.
Interpretation
Books can transport us to incredible places, but to explore beyond, we must create our own stories.
This quote reflects the journey from childhood imagination sparked by reading to the adult realization that to experience the vast range of adventures one desires, creativity and personal expression through writing are necessary. It suggests that while books offer escape and wonder, writing empowers one to explore even further, highlighting the importance of storytelling as a gateway to discovery.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of literacy, you could reference this quote to highlight how reading fosters imagination.
I became so frustrated with visiting inner-city schools (in America) that I just stopped going. The sense that you need to learn just isn't there. If you ask the kids what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers. In South Africa, they don't ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school.
That best academy, a mother's knee.
Education is transformational. It changes lives. That is why people work so hard to become educated and why education has always been the key to the American Dream, the force that erases arbitrary divisions of race and class and culture and unlocks every person's God-given potential.
My belief is that nothing that can be expressed by mathematics cannot be expressed by careful use of literary words.
When I'm working on a book, I try to do eight pages a week. That seems like a good amount. Less than that, I'm not getting a nice momentum, and more than that, I'm probably putting out too much crap.
Everybody should be interested in access to primary and secondary education for everybody.
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