Assemblage Quote by Erica Jong
“Beware of books. They are more than innocent assemblages of paper and ink and string and glue. If they are any good, they have the spirit of the author within. Authors are rogues and ruffians and easy lays. They are gluttons for sweets and savories. They devour life and always want more. They have sap, spirit, sex. Books are panderers. The Jews are not wrong to worship books. A real book has pheromones and sprouts grass through its cover.”
About This Quote
Books embody their authors' personalities, becoming living, seductive entities that influence readers.
In simple terms: Books carry the spirit and desires of their creators.
Key Takeaway
Read with awareness of the author's influence.
Themes
literature
creativity
influence
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reading for pleasure
- academic study
- creative writing
Key Concepts
authorial voice
seduction
metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discern a book's bias?
- What responsibilities do authors have?
A Different Perspective
Books are not neutral; they shape thoughts.
![“A tribute . . . is due to the talents, the rectitude, and the patriotism, which adorn the characters selected to devise and adopt [the Constitution]. In these honorable qualifications I behold the surest pledges that as on one side no local prejudices or attachments no separate views, nor party…” quote by George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/afb/george-washington-257_animosity_a-tribute-is-due-to-the-talents-the-rect_331519.jpg)
