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I know many books which have bored their readers, but I know of none which has done real evil.
Voltaire
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Books can be dull, but they rarely cause harm.

In this quote, Voltaire suggests that while many books may fail to engage or excite their readers, the act of reading itself is not detrimental. He emphasizes that literature, no matter how boring, does not possess the capacity to inflict real harm, contrasting the passive experience of reading with the potential consequences of other human actions.

Themes

BooksReadingLiteratureEducationBoredom

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of reading and education.

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It is not sufficient to see and to know the beauty of a work. We must feel and be affected by it.
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