By the consultation of books, whether of dead or living…
“By the consultation of books, whether of dead or living authors, many temptations of petulance and opposition, which occur in oral conferences, are avoided. An authour cannot obtrude his advice unasked, nor can be often suspected of any malignant intention to insult his readers with his knowledge or his wit. Yet so prevalent is the habit of comparing ourselves with others, while they remain within the reach of our passions, that books are seldom read with complete impartiality, but by those from whom the writer is placed at such a distance that his life or death is indifferent.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Books provide a safe space to explore ideas without the personal biases and confrontations of live debate.
In simple terms: Reading avoids personal conflict.
Key Takeaway
Seek impartial reading.
Themes
knowledge
impartiality
bias
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
reflective
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic study
- personal reflection
- conflict avoidance
- self‑comparison
Key Concepts
literature
critical thinking
ego
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize your own bias when reading?
- Can you separate author intent from personal interpretation?
A Different Perspective
Readers may still project their own biases onto texts.