Book Quote by Earl Nightingale
“Some people act as if it were demeaning to their manhood to wish to be well-read but you can no more be a healthy person mentally without reading substantial books than you can be a vigorous person physically without eating solid food. Books should be chosen, not for their freedom from evil, but for their possession of good. Dr. Johnson said: "Whilst you stand deliberating which book your son shall read first, another boy has read both."”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Unknown, attributed to Earl Nightingale
Reading is essential for mental health just as food is for physical health; choose books for their quality, not merely to avoid bad content.
In simple terms: Reading fuels mind like food fuels body.
Read good books regularly.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal development
- academic study
- self‑improvement
- literary criticism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you evaluate a book's value?
- What reading habits support mental resilience?
Reading alone cannot replace other life skills.