I was making my living from a joke about my appearance that I didn't understand, and in a way still don't, because when I look in a mirror it doesn't seem funny to me.
Wallace ShawnRead
But because we've all been readers, we know what the experience is like, and we hope that what certain writers have given to us, we will give to someone.
Interpretation
What this quote means
We aspire to share the impact of literature with others, as we ourselves have been profoundly influenced by it.
In this quote, Wallace Shawn reflects on the transformative power of reading and the desire of readers to pass on the gift of literature. When we immerse ourselves in the writings of others, we not only gain knowledge and insight but also experience a deep connection, which compels us to share that enrichment with others, hoping to evoke similar feelings and thoughts in them.
Themes
ReadingLiteratureInfluenceSharingExperience
In practice
Example use cases
A teacher might use this quote to inspire students to appreciate the books they read.
More from Wallace Shawn
All quotes βI do things, and other people laugh at them. I rarely know what the joke is supposed to be or why they're laughing.
Wallace ShawnRead
We are not what we seem. We are more than what we seem. The actor knows that. And because the actor knows that hidden inside himself there's a wizard and a king, he also knows that when he's playing himself in his daily life, he's playing a part, he's performing, just as he's performing when he plays a part on stage.
Wallace ShawnRead
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Books have led some to learning and others to madness.
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