Ashamed Quote by Carolyn Wells
“The books we think we ought to read are poky, dull, and dry The books that we would like to read we are ashamed to buy The books that people talk about we never can recall And the books that people give us, oh, they're the worst of all.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Book Lover" by Carolyn Wells, 1905
The quote critiques how societal expectations and personal shame shape our reading choices, leading to a paradox of avoiding both popular and personal interests.
In simple terms: People avoid books they think they should read and those they truly want, ending up with unsatisfying picks.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and read what truly interests you, despite norms.
Themes
literature
social pressure
personal taste
paradox
culture
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
advice
observational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- school curricula
- gifted reading clubs
- personal libraries
- online book recommendations
Key Concepts
conformity
authenticity
cognitive dissonance
Questions to Reflect On
- What books have you avoided because of others' opinions?
- How can you balance societal recommendations with personal interest?
A Different Perspective
Choosing popular books may still feel unsatisfying if they don't match personal curiosity.
![“People think, Hey, I love kids, I want to write children’s books. But they think children are happy. That’s their first mistake. [Messinger, Jonathan. "Guilt for dinner: The Mo Willems interview." Hipsqueak . 5 May 2011. Web. 18 November 2011.]” quote by Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e24/mo-willems-25067_books_people-think-hey-i-love-kids-i-want-to-w_283406.jpg)
![“There are many ways of discarding [books]. You can give them to friends,--or enemies,--or to associations or to poor Southern libraries. But the surest way is to lend them. Then they never come back to bother you.” quote by Carolyn Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e0d/carolyn-wells-10684_association_there-are-many-ways-of-discarding-books_247932.jpg)
