Books are to be call’d for, and supplied, on the…
““Books are to be call’d for, and supplied, on the assumption that the process of reading is nor a half-sleep, but, in highest sense, an exercise, a gymnast’s struggle; that the reader is to do something for himself, must be on the alert, must himself or herself construct indeed the poem, argument, history, metaphysical essay — the text furnishing the hints, the clue, the start or frame-work. Not the book needs so much to be the complete thing, but the reader of the book does. That were to make a nation of supple and athletic minds well-train’d, intuitive, used to depend on themselves, not on a few coteries of writers.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Reading is an active, disciplined exercise demanding personal construction of meaning.
In simple terms: Reading requires active mental effort.
Key Takeaway
Engage actively with texts.
Themes
reading
education
critical thinking
self-reliance
mindfulness
Mood
contemplative
motivational
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- Classroom study
- self‑directed learning
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
Active reading
cognitive engagement
interpretive skill
Questions to Reflect On
- What habits foster deeper reading?
- How can you train your mind for active analysis?
A Different Perspective
Modern digital distractions can reduce deep engagement.