Universities are the cathedrals of the modern age. They shouldn't have to justify their existence by utilitarian criteria.
David LodgeRead
to read is to surrender oneself to an endless displacement of curiosity and desire from one sentence to another, from one action to another, from one level of a text to another. The text unveils itself before us, but never allows itself to be possessed; and instead of trying to possess it we should take pleasure in its teasing
Interpretation
What this quote means
Reading immerses us in curiosity and discovery, offering endless exploration without complete ownership of the text.
This quote by David Lodge emphasizes the transformative power of reading. It illustrates how engaging with a text leads us through a journey of curiosity and desire, as we explore different layers and meanings within it. The text is portrayed not as something to be possessed or dominated, but rather as an experience to be enjoyed, where the pleasure lies in the ongoing exploration and the unfolding of ideas and narratives. This perspective encourages readers to embrace the dynamic relationship between themselves and the literature, where the act of reading itself becomes a fulfilling adventure.
Themes
ReadingCuriosityDesireExplorationLiterature
In practice
Example use cases
During a book club discussion to emphasize the joy of discovery in reading.
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