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I had hundreds of books under my skin already. Not selected reading, all of it. Some of it could be called trashy. I had been through Nick Carter, Horatio Alger, Bertha M. Clay and the whole slew of dime novelists in addition to some really constructive reading. I do not regret the trash. It has harmed me in no way. It was a help, because acquiring the reading habit early is the important thing. Taste and natural development will take care of the rest later on.
Zora Neale Hurston
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the value of reading widely, regardless of the quality, as it fosters a lifelong reading habit that can lead to personal growth.

Zora Neale Hurston reflects on her reading experiences, appreciating both the 'trashy' and 'constructive' literature she encountered. She asserts that all forms of reading contributed to her development, highlighting the importance of cultivating a reading habit early on. Instead of regretting her choices in literature, she believes that the exposure to various genres will refine her taste and knowledge over time.

Themes

ReadingBooksLiteratureHabitEducation

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about the importance of literacy, one might quote Hurston to illustrate that all reading contributes to growth.

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Quote by Zora Neale Hurston | QuoteProject