Why d’you read then?” “Partly for pleasure, because it’s a…
““Why d’you read then?” “Partly for pleasure, because it’s a habit and I’m just as uncomfortable if I don’t read as if I don’t smoke, and partly to know myself. When I read a book I seem to read it with my eyes only, but now and then I come across a passage, perhaps only a phrase, which has a meaning for ME, and it becomes part of me; I’ve got out of the book all that’s any use to me, and I can’t get anything more if I read it a dozen times. You see, it seems to me, one’s like a closed bud, and most of what one reads and does has no effect at all; but there are certain things that have a peculiar significance for one, and they open a petal; and the petals open one by one; and at last the flower is there.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Reading can become a personal catalyst, turning select passages into part of one's identity and growth.
In simple terms: Reading can change you personally.
Key Takeaway
Seek passages that resonate deeply.
Themes
self‑discovery
reading
personal growth
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- creative writing
- therapy
- education
Key Concepts
identity formation
transformative literature
Questions to Reflect On
- What passage has reshaped your view?
- How do you integrate insights into daily life?
A Different Perspective
Not every read changes you; impact varies per individual.