The critic said that once a year he read Kim; and he read…
““The critic said that once a year he read Kim; and he read Kim, it was plain, at whim: not to teach, not to criticize, just for love—he read it, as Kipling wrote it, just because he liked to, wanted to, couldn’t help himself. To him it wasn’t a means to a lecture or article, it was an end; he read it not for anything he could get out of it, but for itself. And isn’t this what the work of art demands of us? The work of art, Rilke said, says to us always: You must change your life. It demands of us that we too see things as ends, not as means—that we too know them and love them for their own sake. This change is beyond us, perhaps, during the active, greedy, and powerful hours of our lives; but duringthe contemplative and sympathetic hours of our reading, our listening, our looking, it is surely within our power, if we choose to make it so, if we choose to let one part of our nature follow its natural desires. So I say to you, for a closing sentence, Read at whim! read at whim!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Reading for pure love, not utility, transforms us, urging us to treat art as an end in itself.
In simple terms: Read for love, not gain.
Key Takeaway
Embrace art as a means of personal change.
Themes
art
reading
love
transformation
Mood
contemplative
inspired
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- literary study
- creative inspiration
Key Concepts
aesthetic experience
intrinsic value
self‑growth
Questions to Reflect On
- How does reading for love alter your perception of art?
- Can you experience a work without seeking a purpose?
A Different Perspective
Reading solely for utility can limit depth and insight.