--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not every book should be a compass. Some…" description: "\"Not every book should be a compass. Some should be a pair of wax wings to soar and escape, if only for a brief time.\" — DH Lawrence" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/dh-lawrence-22185_book_not-every-book-should-be-a-compass-some_2382029.jpg" --- # Not every book should be a compass. Some should be a pair… ![“Not every book should be a compass. Some should be a pair of wax wings to soar and escape, if only for a brief time.” quote by DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/dh-lawrence-22185_book_not-every-book-should-be-a-compass-some_2382029.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/dh-lawrence-22185_book_not-every-book-should-be-a-compass-some_2382029.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/dh-lawrence-22185_book_not-every-book-should-be-a-compass-some_2382029.jpg) > “Not every book should be a compass. Some should be a pair of wax wings to soar and escape, if only for a brief time.” [DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Books can be tools for direction or for temporary escape, offering both guidance and freedom. **In simple terms:** Books can guide or let you escape temporarily. Key Takeaway Use reading to both learn and rejuvenate. Themes literature freedom escape Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - career planning - creative writing - personal reflection - stress relief Key Concepts guidance temporary relief imagination Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance guidance and escape in reading? - When does escape become avoidance? A Different Perspective Escapism may prevent confronting reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Compass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compass/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Let us see how high we can fly before the sun melts the wax in our wings. About the ambitious pursuit of knowledge, alluding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/let-us-see-how-high-we-can-fly-before-the-sun-melts-the-wax-in-our-2/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [“Because who hasn't tried to pull their arms from the sleeves of gravity's lead coat? Who doesn't have at least one pair of wax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucia-perillo/because-who-hasn-t-tried-to-pull-their-arms-from-the-sleeves-of/) [Lucia Perillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucia-perillo/) > [“Let us see how high we can fly before the sun melts the wax in our wings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-us-see-how-high-we-can-fly-before-the-sun-melts-the-wax-in-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/i-have-told-you-of-the-spaniard-who-always-put-on-his-spectacles-when/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [People who do not know the Bible well have been gulled into thinking it is a good guide to morality. This mistaken view may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/people-who-do-not-know-the-bible-well-have-been-gulled-into-thinking/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [There is an ancient Indian saying: "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." If we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-schroeder/there-is-an-ancient-indian-saying-we-do-not-inherit-the-earth-from/) [Patricia Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-schroeder/) > [I take no pleasure in seeing DeLay swing gently in the wind. But the thing I believe in the most is ethics. If someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/i-take-no-pleasure-in-seeing-delay-swing-gently-in-the-wind-but-the/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [“Why a compass?” Ty asked. He hadn’t taken his eyes off Zane’s yet. Zane smiled and ran his thumb across the pendant. “Because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/why-a-compass-ty-asked-he-hadn-t-taken-his-eyes-off-zane-s-yet-zane/) [Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/) > [Anger is an emotion, not a compass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-tancredo/anger-is-an-emotion-not-a-compass/) [Tom Tancredo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-tancredo/) > [put the car in "d" set the compass to "n" and get the "f"out of there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/put-the-car-in-d-set-the-compass-to-n-and-get-the-f-out-of-there/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [The only two good words that can be said for a hurricane are that it gives sufficient warning of its approach, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-only-two-good-words-that-can-be-said-for-a-hurricane-are-that-it/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [In a compass, we got north, south, east and west, right? But in between that, you got things like north-east - now that, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-the-chicago-kid/in-a-compass-we-got-north-south-east-and-west-right-but-in-between/) [BJ the Chicago Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-the-chicago-kid/) > [Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-henry/families-are-the-compass-that-guide-us-they-are-the-inspiration-to/) [Brad Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-henry/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [It signified nothing that the raw, male magnetism that emanated from him probably made compasses malfunction in his presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaelen-foley/it-signified-nothing-that-the-raw-male-magnetism-that-emanated-from/) [Gaelen Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaelen-foley/) ## More by DH Lawrence > [And down his mouth comes to my mouth! and down His bright dark eyes come over me, like a hood Upon my mind! his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dh-lawrence/and-down-his-mouth-comes-to-my-mouth-and-down-his-bright-dark-eyes/) [DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) > [Evil, what is evil? There is only one evil, to deny life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dh-lawrence/evil-what-is-evil-there-is-only-one-evil-to-deny-life/) [DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) > [The true artist doesn't substitute immorality for morality. On the contrary, he always substitutes a finer morality for a grosser. And as soon as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dh-lawrence/the-true-artist-doesn-t-substitute-immorality-for-morality-on-the/) [DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) > [It ought to be lovely to be old, To be full of the peace that comes with experience And wrinkled ripe fulfillment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dh-lawrence/it-ought-to-be-lovely-to-be-old-to-be-full-of-the-peace-that-comes/) [DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) > [“The young man, perched insecurely in the slen­der branches, rocked till he felt slightly drunk, reached down the boughs, where the scarlet beady cherries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dh-lawrence/the-young-man-perched-insecurely-in-the-slen-der-branches-rocked-till/) [DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) > [One sheds one's sicknesses in books--repeats and presents again one's emotions, to be master of them.One sheds one's sicknesses in books--repeats and presents again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dh-lawrence/one-sheds-one-s-sicknesses-in-books-repeats-and-presents-again-one-s/) [DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) > [All people dream, but no equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their mind, wake in the morning to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dh-lawrence/all-people-dream-but-no-equally-those-who-dream-by-night-in-the-dusty/) [DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) > [The chief thing about a woman -- who is much of a woman -- is that in the long run she is not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dh-lawrence/the-chief-thing-about-a-woman-who-is-much-of-a-woman-is-that-in-the/) [DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) > [Temperance: Eat and carouse with Bacchus, or munch dry bread with Jesus, but don't sit down without one of the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dh-lawrence/temperance-eat-and-carouse-with-bacchus-or-munch-dry-bread-with-jesus/) [DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) > [“Any woman who doesn't have a little bit of whore in her is pretty much a dried up stick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dh-lawrence/any-woman-who-doesn-t-have-a-little-bit-of-whore-in-her-is-pretty/) [DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) > [“In the inner dark she saw a handsome bay horse with his clean ears pricked like daggers from his naked head as he swung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dh-lawrence/in-the-inner-dark-she-saw-a-handsome-bay-horse-with-his-clean-ears/) [DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) > [It was cold, and he was coughing. A fine cold draught blew over the knoll. He thought of the woman. Now he would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dh-lawrence/it-was-cold-and-he-was-coughing-a-fine-cold-draught-blew-over-the/) [DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) > [“You, if you were sensible, When I tell you the stars flash signals, each one dreadful, You would not turn and answer me The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dh-lawrence/you-if-you-were-sensible-when-i-tell-you-the-stars-flash-signals-each/) [DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) > [In the ancient recipe, the three antidotes for dullness or boredom are sleep, drink, and travel. It is rather feeble. From sleep you wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dh-lawrence/in-the-ancient-recipe-the-three-antidotes-for-dullness-or-boredom-are-2/) [DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) > [It's all this cold-hearted fucking that is death and idiocy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dh-lawrence/it-s-all-this-cold-hearted-fucking-that-is-death-and-idiocy/) [DH Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) [Explore all 28 DH Lawrence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dh-lawrence/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Not every book should be a compass. 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