--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you are an ardent reader, seek not…" description: "\"If you are an ardent reader, seek not brilliant and erudite texts; otherwise the demon of haughtiness will strike your heart. But like a wise bee that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/ephrem-the-syrian-20505_ardent_if-you-are-an-ardent-reader-seek-not-bri_403466.png" --- # If you are an ardent reader, seek not brilliant and… ![“If you are an ardent reader, seek not brilliant and erudite texts; otherwise the demon of haughtiness will strike your heart. But like a wise bee that gathers honey from flowers, so also through your reading obtain healing for your soul.” quote by Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/ephrem-the-syrian-20505_ardent_if-you-are-an-ardent-reader-seek-not-bri_403466.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/ephrem-the-syrian-20505_ardent_if-you-are-an-ardent-reader-seek-not-bri_403466.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/ephrem-the-syrian-20505_ardent_if-you-are-an-ardent-reader-seek-not-bri_403466.png) > “If you are an ardent reader, seek not brilliant and erudite texts; otherwise the demon of haughtiness will strike your heart. But like a wise bee that gathers honey from flowers, so also through your reading obtain healing for your soul.” [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading should be humble and healing; seeking overly scholarly works breeds pride, while simple, soul‑nourishing texts bring spiritual health. **In simple terms:** Read modestly for soul care. Key Takeaway Choose humble, uplifting reading. Themes humility spiritual health reading wisdom Mood reflective contemplative Type motivational spiritual When to use this quote - personal study - spiritual retreats - book clubs - daily reading Key Concepts theology self‑care literature Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance depth and humility in reading? - What texts have healed you? A Different Perspective Intellectual works can also inspire growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ardent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ardent/) [Bees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bees/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Demon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demon/) [Erudite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erudite/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Haughtiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haughtiness/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Your soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-soul/) ## Related quotes > [In 'Healing the Soul of America,' I wrote about Gandhi's notion of soul force in politics and why it matters to stand on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/in-healing-the-soul-of-america-i-wrote-about-gandhi-s-notion-of-soul/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I'd been a terrific student. I hadn't wasted a moment of my time in school, and I knew plenty about healing the troubled mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-chamberlain/i-d-been-a-terrific-student-i-hadn-t-wasted-a-moment-of-my-time-in/) [Diane Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-chamberlain/) > [One problem I have with faith-healing is that it tends to be focused only on the physical aspect of healing. But Jesus always backed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/one-problem-i-have-with-faith-healing-is-that-it-tends-to-be-focused/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [“The disease of the soul is both more common and more deadly than the disease of the body. Just as medicine is the art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-burton/the-disease-of-the-soul-is-both-more-common-and-more-deadly-than-the/) [Neel Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neel-burton/) > [“A word of forgiveness, not to mention love, goes a long way toward healing the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-owens-prettyman/a-word-of-forgiveness-not-to-mention-love-goes-a-long-way-toward/) Diane Owens Prettyman > [KIND WORDS ARE SWEET TO HEAR AND HEALING TO THE SOUL...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/kind-words-are-sweet-to-hear-and-healing-to-the-soul/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [The magic of "Musical Medicine" will come into its own. The application of such healing potencies will not be limited just to man's body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-heline/the-magic-of-musical-medicine-will-come-into-its-own-the-application/) [Corinne Heline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-heline/) > [“Religion is also a process of healing, I discovered – a healing of the soul. Even our language points to this relation. The words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/religion-is-also-a-process-of-healing-i-discovered-a-healing-of-the/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) > [It is the privilege of any human work which is well done to invest the doer with a certain haughtiness. He can well afford…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/it-is-the-privilege-of-any-human-work-which-is-well-done-to-invest/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [O world, how apt the poor are to be proud!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-world-how-apt-the-poor-are-to-be-proud/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Margaret could not help her looks; but the short curled upper lip, the round, massive up-turned chin, the manner of carrying her head, her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/margaret-could-not-help-her-looks-but-the-short-curled-upper-lip-the/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Pride is innate in beauty, and haughtiness is the companion of the fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/pride-is-innate-in-beauty-and-haughtiness-is-the-companion-of-the-fair/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [If one avoids haughtiness to the utmost extent and is exceedingly humble, he is termed a saint, and this is the standard of saintliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/if-one-avoids-haughtiness-to-the-utmost-extent-and-is-exceedingly/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [“Cherubs fan our foolish fires, filling hearts with mad desires. They prick our pride and haughtiness with quick, angelic naughtiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-biccard/cherubs-fan-our-foolish-fires-filling-hearts-with-mad-desires-they/) [John Biccard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-biccard/) > [With copious evidence ranging from Plato's haughtiness to Beethoven's tirades, we may conclude that the most brilliant people of history tend to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/with-copious-evidence-ranging-from-plato-s-haughtiness-to-beethoven-s/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) ## More by Ephrem the Syrian > [The seed, swollen with moisture, burst asunder its covering of soil and out peers the blade of wheat, full of symbols. So faith, whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/the-seed-swollen-with-moisture-burst-asunder-its-covering-of-soil-and/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [Blessed the one who has become a good spiritual net and caught many for the good Lord, such a one will greatly praised by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/blessed-the-one-who-has-become-a-good-spiritual-net-and-caught-many/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, meddling, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/o-lord-and-master-of-my-life-take-from-me-the-spirit-of-sloth/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [Like the apple of Thine eye preserve me, O Lord God; defend me and beneath Thy wings shelter me from temptations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/like-the-apple-of-thine-eye-preserve-me-o-lord-god-defend-me-and/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [Don't let your eyes look here and there, and don't look on someone elses' beauty, so that the devil will not conquer you with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/don-t-let-your-eyes-look-here-and-there-and-don-t-look-on-someone/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [No one is truly poor but except the one who lacks the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/no-one-is-truly-poor-but-except-the-one-who-lacks-the-truth/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [It is blasphemy if you pray before God while you are full of anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/it-is-blasphemy-if-you-pray-before-god-while-you-are-full-of-anger/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [Prayer is converse with God, equal honor with the Angels, progress in good things, averting of evils, righting of sinners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/prayer-is-converse-with-god-equal-honor-with-the-angels-progress-in/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [Be a lamp in brightness, and make the works of darkness cease, so that whenever your doctrine shines, no one may dare to heed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/be-a-lamp-in-brightness-and-make-the-works-of-darkness-cease-so-that/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [O Lord, we cannot go to the pool of Siloe to which you sent the blind man. But we have the chalice of Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/o-lord-we-cannot-go-to-the-pool-of-siloe-to-which-you-sent-the-blind/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [Who is far from love is a bad state, and to be pitied. He passes his days in a delirious dream, far from God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/who-is-far-from-love-is-a-bad-state-and-to-be-pitied-he-passes-his/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [Blessed the one who has kept the mastery of his eyelids and has not deceived himself with either mind or sense with regard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/blessed-the-one-who-has-kept-the-mastery-of-his-eyelids-and-has-not/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [The fear of God illumines the soul, annihilates evil, weakens the passions, drives darkness from the soul and makes it pure. The fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/the-fear-of-god-illumines-the-soul-annihilates-evil-weakens-the/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [They went down to Egypt and provided food when famine reigned; they came to the obstinate sea, and taught it wisdom with a rod;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/they-went-down-to-egypt-and-provided-food-when-famine-reigned-they/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [When you begin to read or listen to the Holy Scriptures, pray to God thus: "Lord Jesus Christ, open the ears and eyes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/when-you-begin-to-read-or-listen-to-the-holy-scriptures-pray-to-god/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) [Explore all 30 Ephrem the Syrian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) ## More Ardent quotes > [There are courageous and honest men enough in both sections to fight. There is no question of courage involved. The people of both sections…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/there-are-courageous-and-honest-men-enough-in-both-sections-to-fight/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [I am a Zionist, an ardent supporter of Israel, its defender when I deem Israel to be right and its critic when I deem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-bikel/i-am-a-zionist-an-ardent-supporter-of-israel-its-defender-when-i-deem/) [Theodore Bikel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-bikel/) > [Ardent desire for knowledge, in fact, is the one motive attracting and supporting investigators in their efforts; and just this knowledge, really grasped and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/ardent-desire-for-knowledge-in-fact-is-the-one-motive-attracting-and/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [I am an ardent supporter of Israel in all situations and in all circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mulcair/i-am-an-ardent-supporter-of-israel-in-all-situations-and-in-all/) [Thomas Mulcair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mulcair/) > [Not as closely as some of the most ardent fans, but I have some friends who are NASCAR team owners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/not-as-closely-as-some-of-the-most-ardent-fans-but-i-have-some/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The person who inspired me the most was a friend of mine, Anita Roddick. I know that Anita wasn't known to be an ardent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/the-person-who-inspired-me-the-most-was-a-friend-of-mine-anita/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [I rejoice that liberty . . . now finds an asylum in the bosom of a regularly organized government; a government, which, being formed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/i-rejoice-that-liberty-now-finds-an-asylum-in-the-bosom-of-a/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [A sick man, surrounded by those who love him, nursed by those who wish earnestly that he should live, will recover (all other things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-sick-man-surrounded-by-those-who-love-him-nursed-by-those-who-wish/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [If a man has a very decided character, has a strongly accentuated career, it is normally the case of course that he makes ardent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-a-man-has-a-very-decided-character-has-a-strongly-accentuated/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The idea of restraining the legislative authority, in the means of providing for the national defense, is one of those refinements which owe their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-idea-of-restraining-the-legislative-authority-in-the-means-of/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Love is not a mere emotion or sentiment. It is the lucid and ardent responses of the whole person to a value that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/love-is-not-a-mere-emotion-or-sentiment-it-is-the-lucid-and-ardent/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The Battle for the Philippines was the greatest naval battle in history, judged in terms of the number of ships taking part, the number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hough/the-battle-for-the-philippines-was-the-greatest-naval-battle-in/) Richard Hough > [From the day I started to think politically and to develop my own moral values, from my earliest youth, I have been an ardent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/from-the-day-i-started-to-think-politically-and-to-develop-my-own/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [The saddest thing in the world was that human beings, for all their ardent striving and desire, could never achieve physical, emotional, or intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/the-saddest-thing-in-the-world-was-that-human-beings-for-all-their/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“He was young and ardent in a hundred happy ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/he-was-young-and-ardent-in-a-hundred-happy-ways/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) [Browse all 183 Ardent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ardent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you are an ardent reader, seek not brilliant and erudite texts; otherwise the demon of haughtiness will strike your heart. 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