--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we read, we decide when, where, how…" description: "\"“When we read, we decide when, where, how long, and about what. One of the few places on earth that it is still possible to experience an instant sense..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/andrew-clements-24769_andrew_when-we-read-we-decide-when-where-how-lo_1652762.jpg" --- # When we read, we decide when, where, how long, and about… ![“When we read, we decide when, where, how long, and about what. One of the few places on earth that it is still possible to experience an instant sense of freedom and privacy is anywhere you open up a good book and begin to read. When we read silently, we are alone with our own thoughts and one…” quote by Andrew Clements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/andrew-clements-24769_andrew_when-we-read-we-decide-when-where-how-lo_1652762.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/andrew-clements-24769_andrew_when-we-read-we-decide-when-where-how-lo_1652762.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/andrew-clements-24769_andrew_when-we-read-we-decide-when-where-how-lo_1652762.jpg) > ““When we read, we decide when, where, how long, and about what. One of the few places on earth that it is still possible to experience an instant sense of freedom and privacy is anywhere you open up a good book and begin to read. When we read silently, we are alone with our own thoughts and one other voice. We can take our time, consider, evaluate, and digest what we read—with no commercial interruptions, no emotional music or special effects manipulation. And in spite of the advances in electronic information exchange, the book is still the most important medium for presenting ideas of substance and value, still the only real home of literature.”” [Andrew Clements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-clements/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading offers private, uninterrupted mental freedom and deep contemplation, unlike digital media. **In simple terms:** Reading gives private mental freedom. Key Takeaway Prioritize reading for thoughtful reflection. Themes freedom focus literature Mood reflective inspirational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - study sessions - commute - relaxation - education Key Concepts cognitive immersion media criticism Questions to Reflect On - What does reading mean to you? - How can you balance digital and print media? A Different Perspective Digital formats can also provide convenience and accessibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Good book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-book/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Special effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-effects/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“She begin to read. And read. And in short order, she became dangerous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-porath/she-begin-to-read-and-read-and-in-short-order-she-became-dangerous/) Jason Porath > [“THE VOICE YOU HEAR WHEN YOU READ SILENTLY is not silent, it is a speaking- out-loud voice in your head; it is \*spoken\*, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lux/the-voice-you-hear-when-you-read-silently-is-not-silent-it-is-a/) [Thomas Lux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lux/) > [“9 likes Like Facebook\_icon “Read this to yourself. Read it silently. Don't move your lips. Don't make a sound. Listen to yourself. Listen without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/9-likes-like-facebook-icon-read-this-to-yourself-read-it-silently-don/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [“Read this to yourself. Read it silently. Don't move your lips. Don't make a sound. Listen to yourself. Listen without hearing anything. What a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/read-this-to-yourself-read-it-silently-don-t-move-your-lips-don-t/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [“I had a renewal of mind, when I begin to read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/i-had-a-renewal-of-mind-when-i-begin-to-read/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Begin to read, write, sing, dance, study, draw…!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/begin-to-read-write-sing-dance-study-draw/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [When I only begin to read, I forget I'm on this world. It lifts me on wings with high thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anzia-yezierska/when-i-only-begin-to-read-i-forget-i-m-on-this-world-it-lifts-me-on/) [Anzia Yezierska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anzia-yezierska/) > [“My books nourish my soul. When I open a cover and begin to read, I go to new places, to worlds I never knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-hite/my-books-nourish-my-soul-when-i-open-a-cover-and-begin-to-read-i-go/) Ann Hite > [“I think it will last," said Grandfather. "In my experience when people once begin to read they go on. They begin because they think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/i-think-it-will-last-said-grandfather-in-my-experience-when-people/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Begin to read a book that will help you move toward your dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/begin-to-read-a-book-that-will-help-you-move-toward-your-dream/) [Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/) > [Begin where you are. Read every word, every phrase, every paragraph of the mind, as it operates through thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/begin-where-you-are-read-every-word-every-phrase-every-paragraph-of/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Read, read, read, read and then read some more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-p-kinsella/read-read-read-read-and-then-read-some-more/) [W. P. Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-p-kinsella/) > [XOptsb Muchos Gracias for your blog.Really looking forward to read more. Will read on...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laptop-review/xoptsb-muchos-gracias-for-your-blog-really-looking-forward-to-read/) Laptop Review > [Read. Always read. No one can take that away from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percival-everett/read-always-read-no-one-can-take-that-away-from-you/) [Percival Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percival-everett/) > [Read. Read all the time. Read as a matter of principle, as a matter of self-respect. Read as a nourishing staple of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/read-read-all-the-time-read-as-a-matter-of-principle-as-a-matter-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Andrew Clements > [“Robert said, "This is great, huh? Sorry to butt in and everything, but I really need the extra points. For my grade." Ben nodded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-clements/robert-said-this-is-great-huh-sorry-to-butt-in-and-everything-but-i/) [Andrew Clements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-clements/) > [Watch TV or something." That's what the note says. So I say to myself, Fine. But I think I'll do the "or something" part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-clements/watch-tv-or-something-that-s-what-the-note-says-so-i-say-to-myself/) [Andrew Clements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-clements/) > [Two wrongs don't make a right, but don't three lefts make a right? Two wrongs don't make a right, but don't two negatives make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-clements/two-wrongs-don-t-make-a-right-but-don-t-three-lefts-make-a-right-two/) [Andrew Clements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-clements/) > [who says dog means dog?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-clements/who-says-dog-means-dog/) [Andrew Clements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-clements/) > [“A singing goat is like reading books, I love goats and dinosaurs."-Albert Einstein”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-clements/a-singing-goat-is-like-reading-books-i-love-goats-and-dinosaurs/) [Andrew Clements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-clements/) > [I almost tell him that I'd never be able to do something like that, just take out my instrument and begin playing on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-clements/i-almost-tell-him-that-i-d-never-be-able-to-do-something-like-that/) [Andrew Clements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-clements/) > [“It's about 65 degrees, so it feels like when the air conditioner is up on high. I can bear it, so I'm going for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-clements/it-s-about-65-degrees-so-it-feels-like-when-the-air-conditioner-is-up/) [Andrew Clements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-clements/) > [Darkness is only light's absence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-clements/darkness-is-only-light-s-absence/) [Andrew Clements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-clements/) > [It is not good to have TOO MUCH of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-clements/it-is-not-good-to-have-too-much-of-anything/) [Andrew Clements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-clements/) > [“Darkness is only light's absence. -Things that Are”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-clements/darkness-is-only-light-s-absence-things-that-are/) [Andrew Clements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-clements/) > [“Change couldn't be stopped...but people always had choices, didn't they? Even if change was being forced on you...you still had a choice: You could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-clements/change-couldn-t-be-stopped-but-people-always-had-choices-didn-t-they/) [Andrew Clements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-clements/) > [But fear doesn't need doors and windows. It works from the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-clements/but-fear-doesn-t-need-doors-and-windows-it-works-from-the-inside/) [Andrew Clements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-clements/) > [I have my own story, and I love my story, but I know I can't tell it alone, not now. 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It's not my idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-parker/i-do-not-wanna-write-a-song-like-coathanger-so-andrew-breitbart-can/) [Graham Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-parker/) > [I was born in St. Andrew's and raised in Kingston then I attended the Alpha Boy's school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-dekker/i-was-born-in-st-andrew-s-and-raised-in-kingston-then-i-attended-the/) [Desmond Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-dekker/) > [“Andrew raised an eyebrow in appreciation. “Damn…what is it with this town?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-gregory/andrew-raised-an-eyebrow-in-appreciation-damn-what-is-it-with-this/) Amy Gregory > [In the years since The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin, Voinovich has sharpened his satire, and Monumental Propaganda is a novel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kalfus/in-the-years-since-the-life-and-extraordinary-adventures-of-private/) [Ken Kalfus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kalfus/) > [When have you ever seen a one on one match up on this platform? 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If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/he-looked-back-at-the-page-got-one-last-glimpse-before-the-match-blew/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) Browse all 290 Andrew quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When we read, we decide when, where, how long, and about what. One of the few places on earth that it is still possible to experience an instant sense of freedom and privacy is anywhere you open up a good book and begin to read. When we read silently, we are alone with our own thoughts and one other voice. We can take our time, consider, evaluate, and digest what we read—with no commercial interruptions, no emotional music or special effects manipulation. 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