The Enlightenment, the Age of Reason, is seen as the beginning of modern depravity.
Umberto EcoRead
The good of a book lies in its being read. A book is made up of signs that speak of other signs, which in their turn speak of things. Without an eye to read them, a book contains signs that produce no concepts; therefore it is dumb.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The value of a book is realized only when it is read, as it contains ideas that require interpretation.
Umberto Eco emphasizes that books are merely collections of signs that communicate concepts and ideas. Without a reader to engage with these signs, the book remains silent and devoid of meaning, illustrating the vital role of interpretation in the reading process.
Themes
ReadingBooksMeaningInterpretationKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
In a book club discussion, one might say, 'As Umberto Eco pointed out, the good of a book lies in its being read.'
More from Umberto Eco
All quotes →I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early poetry, and bad poets publish it. Thankfully I gave up rather quickly.
Umberto EcoRead
But why do some people support [the heretics]?" "Because it serves their purposes, which concern the faith rarely, and more often the conquest of power." "Is that why the church of Rome accuses all its adversaries of heresy?" "That is why, and that is also why it recognizes as orthodoxy any heresy it can bring back under its own control or must accept because the heresy has become too strong.
Umberto EcoRead
You die, but most of what you have accumulated will not be lost; you are leaving a message in a bottle.
Umberto EcoRead
"Then we are living in a place abandoned by God," I said, disheartened. "Have you found any places where God would have felt at home?" William asked me, looking down from his great height.
Umberto EcoRead
The lunatic is all idée fixe, and whatever he comes across confirms his lunacy. You can tell him by the liberties he takes with common sense, by his flashes of inspiration, and by the fact that sooner or later he brings up the Templars.
Umberto EcoRead
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I believe unconditionally in the ability of people to respond when they are told the truth. We need to be taught to study rather than believe, to inquire rather than to affirm.
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