--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As sheer casual reading matter, I still…" description: "\"As sheer casual reading matter, I still find the English dictionary the most interesting book in our language.\" — Albert J. Nock" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d55/albert-j-nock-9816_book_as-sheer-casual-reading-matter-i-still-f_3130848.png" --- # As sheer casual reading matter, I still find the English… ![“As sheer casual reading matter, I still find the English dictionary the most interesting book in our language.” quote by Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d55/albert-j-nock-9816_book_as-sheer-casual-reading-matter-i-still-f_3130848.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d55/albert-j-nock-9816_book_as-sheer-casual-reading-matter-i-still-f_3130848.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d55/albert-j-nock-9816_book_as-sheer-casual-reading-matter-i-still-f_3130848.png) > “As sheer casual reading matter, I still find the English dictionary the most interesting book in our language.” [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The dictionary, as a curated collection of language, offers deep insight into cultural and intellectual history. **In simple terms:** Dictionaries reveal language’s story. Key Takeaway Explore words to understand culture. Themes language culture knowledge Mood curious intellectual Type educational reflective When to use this quote - education - writing - translation - research Key Concepts lexicography historical linguistics Questions to Reflect On - What word has changed your perspective? - How does language shape thought? A Different Perspective Dictionaries may lack context or nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Dictionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictionary/) [Interesting book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting-book/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) ## Related quotes > [I am the most interesting book of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-bashkirtseff/i-am-the-most-interesting-book-of-all/) [Marie Bashkirtseff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-bashkirtseff/) > [People are like almanacs, Bonnie - you never can find the information you're looking for, but the casual reading is well worth the trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/people-are-like-almanacs-bonnie-you-never-can-find-the-information/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [I'm afraid I wasn't much of a student, but my casual reading was enormous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-aiken/i-m-afraid-i-wasn-t-much-of-a-student-but-my-casual-reading-was/) [Conrad Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-aiken/) > [An American customer can book in English all over the world, but also, somebody from Japan or China can book in their own language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-tans/an-american-customer-can-book-in-english-all-over-the-world-but-also/) [Gillian Tans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-tans/) > [If my novel gets any attention in Bulgaria, it will be as a scandal: a book about a teacher at a famous school and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-greenwell/if-my-novel-gets-any-attention-in-bulgaria-it-will-be-as-a-scandal-a/) [Garth Greenwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-greenwell/) > [When a translator translates my book, it is no longer just my book. It is the translator's book, too. So the book in another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/when-a-translator-translates-my-book-it-is-no-longer-just-my-book-it/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [The very same book, even if it is translated very accurately, let's say from Hebrew into English or from English into Hebrew, becomes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/the-very-same-book-even-if-it-is-translated-very-accurately-let-s-say/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [I was under twenty when I deliberately put it to myself one night after good conversation that there are moments when we actually touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/i-was-under-twenty-when-i-deliberately-put-it-to-myself-one-night/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [The English Bible - a book which, if everything else in our language should perish, would alone suffice to show the whole extent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-english-bible-a-book-which-if-everything-else-in-our-language/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Literature belongs first and foremost to the language in which it is being written. 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Be very careful how, when,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanji-paul-arvind-2/faith-hope-trust-are-biggest-and-strongest-words-in-the-english/) Sanji Paul Arvind > [“My head was spinning. I could think of nothing better to calm it down than the Oxford English Dictionary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/my-head-was-spinning-i-could-think-of-nothing-better-to-calm-it-down/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [Girl: omgzz ma boyf iz lyk sah sxc omgzz iz gunna lyk marry him 4 realz he iz juz sah perf itz just cray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/girl-omgzz-ma-boyf-iz-lyk-sah-sxc-omgzz-iz-gunna-lyk-marry-him-4/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Albert J. Nock > [The State, on the other hand, both in its genesis and by its primary intention, is purely anti-social. It is not based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-state-on-the-other-hand-both-in-its-genesis-and-by-its-primary/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [When we speak freely, let us speak plainly, for plain speech is wholesome; especially, plain speech about public affairs and public men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/when-we-speak-freely-let-us-speak-plainly-for-plain-speech-is/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The practical reason for freedom is that freedom seems to be the only condition under which any kind of substantial moral fiber can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-practical-reason-for-freedom-is-that-freedom-seems-to-be-the-only/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Like all predatory or parasitic institutions, its first instinct is that of self-preservation. 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Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Instead of recognizing the State as ‘the common enemy of all well-disposed, industrious and decent men,’ the run of mankind, with rare exceptions, regards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/instead-of-recognizing-the-state-as-the-common-enemy-of-all-well-2/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [There are two methods, or means, and only two, whereby man's needs and desires can be satisfied. One is the production and exchange of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/there-are-two-methods-or-means-and-only-two-whereby-man-s-needs-and/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Personal publicity of every kind is utterly distasteful to me, and I have made greater efforts to escape it than most people make to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/personal-publicity-of-every-kind-is-utterly-distasteful-to-me-and-i/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [It is interesting to observe that in the year 1935 the average individual's incurious attitude towards the phenomenon of the State is precisely what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/it-is-interesting-to-observe-that-in-the-year-1935-the-average/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [I am said to be difficult of acquaintance, unwilling to meet any one half way, and showing a social manner which is easy, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/i-am-said-to-be-difficult-of-acquaintance-unwilling-to-meet-any-one/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The question of who is right and who is wrong has seemed to me always too small to be worth a moment's thought, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-question-of-who-is-right-and-who-is-wrong-has-seemed-to-me-always/) [Albert J. 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