...begged them as we read our literary texts, only to…
““...begged them as we read our literary texts, only to listen. To wrench open - it takes an effort of will - the portcullis to their teenage hearts for just a couple of hours once a week, to humbly admit another, and better - a Yeats or Shakespeare, a Crazy Jane or Hamlet - and to welcome them, to allow for those tiny spots of time some vibration in the jelly of being, that makes, once it has settled, a subtle new mould... Otherwise, I would observe tartly...you are merely going to become a product of your family, the few friends you might make and the few lovers you may garner...nothing more than a function of your upbringing - a type. Whereas, if you will only read, and listen, you will admit a multiplicity of voices and points of view, consider them with some humility, allow them gracious entrance however strident or discordant some of them may sound, then you will grow and change, and each of these voices will become a constituent part of who you become, an atom of growing being. It is literature and only literature than can do this.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Reading diverse literature opens minds, fostering humility and personal growth beyond familial or social conditioning
In simple terms: Literature expands perspective and shapes identity
Key Takeaway
Read widely to grow multiple voices
Themes
literature
personal growth
humility
identity
diversity
Mood
reflective
inspired
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- college courses
- book clubs
- personal journaling
- creative writing workshops
Key Concepts
cognitive flexibility
empathy
self‑construction
Questions to Reflect On
- How does reading opposing viewpoints change your self‑concept?
- What barriers prevent you from engaging with challenging texts?
A Different Perspective
Limited time and access may restrict exposure to varied works