Books are not holy relics,' Trefusis had said. 'Words may…
““Books are not holy relics,' Trefusis had said. 'Words may be my religion, but when it comes to worship, I am very low church. The temples and the graven images are of no interest to me. The superstitious mammetry of a bourgeois obsession for books is severely annoying. Think how many children are put off reading by prissy little people ticking them off whenever they turn a page carelessly. The world is so fond of saying that book s should be "treated with respect". But when are we told that _words_ should be treated with respect? From our earliest years we are taught to revere only the outward and visible. Ghastly literary types maundering on about books as "objects"...””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He criticizes treating books as sacred objects, urging respect for words themselves and warning that reverence for physical books can deter readers, especially children.
In simple terms: Books shouldn't be idolized; words deserve respect.
Key Takeaway
Value ideas over objects.
Themes
literature
respect
education
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- teaching children
- library programs
- book clubs
- publishing industry
- school curricula
Key Concepts
cultural criticism
materialism
reading habits
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we teach respect for ideas without idolizing objects?
- What practices help children focus on content rather than format?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on physical books may ignore digital reading benefits.