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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If you ask a living teacher a question, he will probably answer you. If you are puzzled by what he says, you can save yourself the trouble of thinking by asking him what he means. If, however, you ask a book a question, you must answer it yourself. In this respect a book is like nature or the world. When you question it, it answers you only to the extent that you do the work of thinking an analysis yourself.
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In nine months, a group of children left alone with a computer - in any language - would reach the same standard as an office secretary in the West.
Sugata MitraRead
The reading of books, what is it but conversing with the wisest men of all ages and all countries.
Isaac BarrowRead