Now, my novel begins. No, now I begin my novel—and yet I cannot decide whether to call myself I or she.
Elizabeth HardwickRead
The greatest gift is a passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Reading is a valuable and affordable gift that enriches your mind and spirit.
This quote emphasizes the profound impact that reading can have on an individual's life. It suggests that reading serves not only as a source of entertainment and distraction, but also as a means of acquiring knowledge, gaining diverse experiences, and achieving moral clarity. Hardwick portrays reading as an essential tool for personal growth and understanding the world.
Themes
ReadingPassionKnowledgeExperienceEducationMoral Illumination
In practice
Example use cases
In a book club meeting, one might share this quote to inspire others to read more.
More from Elizabeth Hardwick
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Too often we forget that discipline really means to teach, not to punish. A disciple is a student, not a recipient of behavioural consequences.
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History can come in handy. If you were born yesterday, with no knowledge of the past, you might easily accept whatever the government tells you. But knowing a bit of history--while it would not absolutely prove the government was lying in a given instance--might make you skeptical, lead you to ask questions, make it more likely that you would find out the truth.
Howard ZinnRead