Books Quote by Charles Dickens
““Don’t you read or get read to?” The old man shakes his head with sharp sly triumph. “No, no. We have never been readers in our family. It don’t pay. Stuff. Idleness. Folly. No, no!””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, 1861
The speaker dismisses reading as useless, equating it with idleness and folly, reflecting a cultural devaluation of literature.
In simple terms: Reading is seen as wasteful and idle.
Key Takeaway
Question the value you place on reading.
Themes
education
class
literature
family
values
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
cautionary
critical
When to use this quote
- Family gatherings
- school curricula
- personal development
- public policy
- media criticism
Key Concepts
Cultural attitudes
literary criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you assume reading is unproductive?
- How might reading benefit you beyond work?
A Different Perspective
Reading can enrich minds and improve critical thinking.
