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Book Quote by C.S. Lewis

“I am a product [...of] endless books. My father bought all the books he read and never got rid of any of them. There were books in the study, books in the drawing room, books in the cloakroom, books (two deep) in the great bookcase on the landing, books in a bedroom, books piled as high as my…” quote by C.S. Lewis
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““I am a product [...of] endless books. My father bought all the books he read and never got rid of any of them. There were books in the study, books in the drawing room, books in the cloakroom, books (two deep) in the great bookcase on the landing, books in a bedroom, books piled as high as my shoulder in the cistern attic, books of all kinds reflecting every transient stage of my parents' interest, books readable and unreadable, books suitable for a child and books most emphatically not. Nothing was forbidden me. In the seemingly endless rainy afternoons I took volume after volume from the shelves. I had always the same certainty of finding a book that was new to me as a man who walks into a field has of finding a new blade of grass.””

C.S. Lewis

About This Quote

Source Interview: The Life and Works of C.S. Lewis, 1975

Immersion in a vast, varied library shaped his imagination and worldview, offering endless discovery.

In simple terms: Books surrounded him, fueling curiosity and growth.

Key Takeaway

Seek diverse reading to expand perspective.

Themes

learning curiosity growth imagination

Mood

reflective inspired

Type

literary personal development

When to use this quote

  • childhood home
  • academic study
  • creative writing
  • personal development

Key Concepts

Literature environmental influence intellectual development

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does a rich literary environment affect personal identity?
  • What role do books play in shaping imagination?
A Different Perspective

Overabundance may overwhelm and limit focus.

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