--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was as though I had been dying of…" description: "\"It was as though I had been dying of thirst and the librarian had handed me a five gallon bucket of water. I drank and drank. The only reason I am he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/gary-paulsen-8809_buckets_it-was-as-though-i-had-been-dying-of-thi_2769632.jpg" --- # It was as though I had been dying of thirst and the… ![“It was as though I had been dying of thirst and the librarian had handed me a five gallon bucket of water. I drank and drank. The only reason I am here and not in prison is because of that woman. I was a loser, but she showed me the power of reading.” quote by Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/gary-paulsen-8809_buckets_it-was-as-though-i-had-been-dying-of-thi_2769632.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/gary-paulsen-8809_buckets_it-was-as-though-i-had-been-dying-of-thi_2769632.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/gary-paulsen-8809_buckets_it-was-as-though-i-had-been-dying-of-thi_2769632.jpg) > “It was as though I had been dying of thirst and the librarian had handed me a five gallon bucket of water. I drank and drank. The only reason I am here and not in prison is because of that woman. I was a loser, but she showed me the power of reading.” [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A transformative encounter with a supportive mentor can revive a desperate soul and redirect a life toward purpose. **In simple terms:** A mentor's help can save you from ruin. Key Takeaway Seek guidance and value reading. Themes redemption mentorship literature personal growth Mood hopeful reflective Type inspirational literary When to use this quote - overcoming addiction - education - career change - prison reform Key Concepts self‑efficacy narrative therapy social capital Questions to Reflect On - Who can you thank for your turning point? - How does reading change your worldview? A Different Perspective Support may not replace personal responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Librarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/librarian/) [Loser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loser/) [Power Of Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-of-reading/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [A poem makes clear without making simple. Poetry's language carries what lives outside language. It's as if you were given a 5-gallon bucket with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hirshfield/a-poem-makes-clear-without-making-simple-poetry-s-language-carries/) [Jane Hirshfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hirshfield/) > [“They had nothing to eat but Ryan's food, and they ate little of that because it was so dry, but it seemed to sustain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cooper/they-had-nothing-to-eat-but-ryan-s-food-and-they-ate-little-of-that/) [Susan Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cooper/) > [“This water is greatly valued,” Kassandra said. “Event today, we bring ewers of it to the temples for blessings.” She looked at him again,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-litton/this-water-is-greatly-valued-kassandra-said-event-today-we-bring/) [Josie Litton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-litton/) > [Thirst drove me down to the water where I drank the moon's reflection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/thirst-drove-me-down-to-the-water-where-i-drank-the-moon-s-reflection/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“He splashed into the water, his whole body, not with the reverent attitude of prayer, but with a desperate thirst; he buried his head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/he-splashed-into-the-water-his-whole-body-not-with-the-reverent/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [As they advanced (towards the fountain) one after another of Bastian's Fastastican gifts fell away from him. The strong, handsome, fearless hero became the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/as-they-advanced-towards-the-fountain-one-after-another-of-bastian-s/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [The power of reading a great book is that you start thinking like the author. For those magical moments while you are immersed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-power-of-reading-a-great-book-is-that-you-start-thinking-like-the/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [ “Now that reading and writing are universal accomplishments, books are not bought so freely as they were about 1820. . . . \[I\]n fact,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/now-that-reading-and-writing-are-universal-accomplishments-books-are/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [We always wish that we could read others minds for us to understand them.. Have you ever thought if God gave us the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nushra/we-always-wish-that-we-could-read-others-minds-for-us-to-understand/) [Nushra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nushra/) > [“I am ashamed to say this, but as a child, neither my parents not my teachers pushed me to read. In fact, I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-whyte-iii/i-am-ashamed-to-say-this-but-as-a-child-neither-my-parents-not-my/) [Daniel Whyte III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-whyte-iii/) > [“Pat, if there's anything you recall about your first visit with Monsignor Frank Kief, I sincerely hope it's this: there is no such thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-casey/pat-if-there-s-anything-you-recall-about-your-first-visit-with/) Kerry Casey > [“We can trace the communitarian fantasy that lies at the root of all humanism back to the model of a literary society, in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/we-can-trace-the-communitarian-fantasy-that-lies-at-the-root-of-all/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [For the Tintin books were my emotional universe. To read them felt quite simply like being loved: in advance and by an entire world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-davies/for-the-tintin-books-were-my-emotional-universe-to-read-them-felt/) [Luke Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-davies/) > [It is important early in life to acquire the power of reading sense wherever you happen to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/it-is-important-early-in-life-to-acquire-the-power-of-reading-sense/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Ever thought why God did not give us the power of reading others' minds? So that we could have the chance to TRUST and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya/ever-thought-why-god-did-not-give-us-the-power-of-reading-others/) [Divya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya/) ## More by Gary Paulsen > [And the last thought he had that morning as he closed his eyes was: I hope the tornado hit the moose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/and-the-last-thought-he-had-that-morning-as-he-closed-his-eyes-was-i/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [The person who reads can bail, but the person who doesn't fails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/the-person-who-reads-can-bail-but-the-person-who-doesn-t-fails/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [...this beginning motion, this first time when a sail truly filled and the boat took life and knifed across the lake under perfect control,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/this-beginning-motion-this-first-time-when-a-sail-truly-filled-and/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [We make a mistake in thinking we own pets - the animals open their lives up and make us a part of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/we-make-a-mistake-in-thinking-we-own-pets-the-animals-open-their/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [I can't rightly say where deciding to write about the American Revolution came from; I had bits and pieces of information about the war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/i-can-t-rightly-say-where-deciding-to-write-about-the-american/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [“How could he? The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/how-could-he-the/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [I tried to contain myself... but I escaped!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/i-tried-to-contain-myself-but-i-escaped/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [“he’s not stupid, he’s just not observant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/he-s-not-stupid-he-s-just-not-observant/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [“Brian looked back and for a moment felt afraid because the wolf was so... so right. He knew Brian, knew him and owned him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/brian-looked-back-and-for-a-moment-felt-afraid-because-the-wolf-was/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [“Reading is not daily its a life style for all readers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/reading-is-not-daily-its-a-life-style-for-all-readers/) [gary paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [That's all it took to solve problems - just sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/that-s-all-it-took-to-solve-problems-just-sense/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [“kep on trying”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/kep-on-trying/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [“There is always a solution. For everything. Always. Sometimes it isn't pretty and takes a little longer, but there is still a solution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/there-is-always-a-solution-for-everything-always-sometimes-it-isn-t/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [I am happiest in the brush and by myself - whether that's the woods of northern Minnesota or the wilds of Alaska behind a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/i-am-happiest-in-the-brush-and-by-myself-whether-that-s-the-woods-of/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [He did not know how long it took, but later he looked back on this time of crying in the corner of the dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/he-did-not-know-how-long-it-took-but-later-he-looked-back-on-this/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) [Explore all 76 Gary Paulsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) ## More Buckets quotes > [In the water bucket a melon and an eggplant nodding to each other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yosa-buson/in-the-water-bucket-a-melon-and-an-eggplant-nodding-to-each-other/) [Yosa Buson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yosa-buson/) > [What a pure blessing it was to have a bath in a tub alone in a room where all you had to do was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-e-turner/what-a-pure-blessing-it-was-to-have-a-bath-in-a-tub-alone-in-a-room/) [Nancy E. Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-e-turner/) > [After Nicholas hung up the phone, he watched his mother carry buckets and garden tools across the couch grass toward a bed that would,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-irwin/after-nicholas-hung-up-the-phone-he-watched-his-mother-carry-buckets/) [Stephen M. Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-irwin/) > [Two tears in a bucket. Motherfuck it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berendt/two-tears-in-a-bucket-motherfuck-it/) [John Berendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berendt/) > [My paternal grandmother would not light a fire on the Sabbath and piled all Sunday's washing-up in a bucket, to be dealt with on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-carter/my-paternal-grandmother-would-not-light-a-fire-on-the-sabbath-and/) [Angela Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-carter/) > [When you are relaxed about where you are at in life, things tend to flow more fluidly. It is as if you poke three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-o-neill/when-you-are-relaxed-about-where-you-are-at-in-life-things-tend-to/) [Jennifer O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-o-neill/) > [Seventeen, eh!" said Hagrid as he accepted a bucket-sized glass of wine from Fred. "Six years to the day we met, Harry, d’yeh remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seventeen-eh-said-hagrid-as-he-accepted-a-bucket-sized-glass-of-wine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I grew up having to piss in a bucket ’cos there was no indoor shitter, and now I have these computerised Japanese super-loo things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-grew-up-having-to-piss-in-a-bucket-cos-there-was-no-indoor-shitter/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [When life gives you the opportunity to check off a thing on the bucket list, you have to check them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/when-life-gives-you-the-opportunity-to-check-off-a-thing-on-the/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) > [If pigs could vote, the man with the slop bucket would be elected swineherd every time, no matter how much slaughtering he did on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/if-pigs-could-vote-the-man-with-the-slop-bucket-would-be-elected/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [It's gonna be awesome! A suspected pedophile dunks my kids head in a bucket so when she dies she can live in an invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/it-s-gonna-be-awesome-a-suspected-pedophile-dunks-my-kids-head-in-a/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [Write what you know. Every guide for the aspiring author advises this. Because I live in a long-settled rural place, I know certain things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/write-what-you-know-every-guide-for-the-aspiring-author-advises-this/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [Two buckets were easier carried than one. / I grew up in between.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/two-buckets-were-easier-carried-than-one-i-grew-up-in-between/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [I would love to go to India. And also someday, I want to have a family. That's my bucket-list.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/i-would-love-to-go-to-india-and-also-someday-i-want-to-have-a-family/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [Affection can no more spoil a child than the sun could be put out by a bucket of gasoline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/affection-can-no-more-spoil-a-child-than-the-sun-could-be-put-out-by/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) Browse all 253 Buckets quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was as though I had been dying of thirst and the librarian had handed me a five gallon bucket of water. I drank and drank. The only reason I am here and not in prison is because of that woman. 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