Bewildered Quote by Annie Dillard
“Why are we reading if not in hope that the writer will magnify and dramatize our days, will illuminate and inspire us with wisdom, courage, and the possibility of meaningfulness, and will press upon our minds the deepest mysteries, so that we may feel again their majesty and power? What do we ever know that is higher than that power which, from time to time, seizes our lives, and reveals us startlingly to ourselves as creatures set down here bewildered?”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “Why I Write” in *The Writing Life*, 1986
The passage argues that reading exists to elevate us, offering wisdom, courage, and a sense of meaning while confronting life's mysteries and our bewildered state.
In simple terms: Reading gives meaning, wisdom, and awe.
Key Takeaway
Seek books that challenge and inspire you.
Themes
meaning
wisdom
existence
miracle
reflection
Mood
contemplative
inspired
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- academic study
- spiritual contemplation
- creative writing
Key Concepts
existentialism
literary purpose
human curiosity
Questions to Reflect On
- What book has reshaped your view of life?
- How does reading help you face uncertainty?
A Different Perspective
Reading may not always provide clear answers, only deeper questions.
