--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reading books again? Books will ruin your…" description: "\"“Reading books again? Books will ruin your sword eye, boy.”\" — George R.R. Martin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f6/george-r-r-martin-48_bookishness_reading-books-again-books-will-ruin-your_3004094.png" --- # Reading books again? Books will ruin your sword eye, boy. ![“Reading books again? Books will ruin your sword eye, boy.” quote by George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f6/george-r-r-martin-48_bookishness_reading-books-again-books-will-ruin-your_3004094.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f6/george-r-r-martin-48_bookishness_reading-books-again-books-will-ruin-your_3004094.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f6/george-r-r-martin-48_bookishness_reading-books-again-books-will-ruin-your_3004094.png) > ““Reading books again? Books will ruin your sword eye, boy.”” [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading too much can distract from practical skills, suggesting a balance between knowledge and action. **In simple terms:** Books can hinder practical abilities. Key Takeaway Balance reading with real-world practice. Themes knowledge practicality balance growth discipline Mood cautious thoughtful advisory Type advice warning philosophical When to use this quote - training - combat readiness - reading habits - time management Key Concepts education skill development focus Questions to Reflect On - How much reading is beneficial? - When should practice dominate? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on reading may weaken physical abilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bookishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookishness/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-books/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Movies can't ruin books. They can only ruin movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/movies-can-t-ruin-books-they-can-only-ruin-movies/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [“Before every elementary school classroom had a 'Drop Everything and Read' period, before parents and educators agonized more about children being glued to Call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-paul/before-every-elementary-school-classroom-had-a-drop-everything-and/) [Pamela Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-paul/) > [“Books gnaw at me from around the edges of my life, demanding more time and attention. I am always left hungry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-paul/books-gnaw-at-me-from-around-the-edges-of-my-life-demanding-more-time/) [Pamela Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-paul/) > [“The book was thick and red. It was almost thicker than it was wide, a thickness that somehow enhanced its bookishness. It was -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-self/the-book-was-thick-and-red-it-was-almost-thicker-than-it-was-wide-a/) [Will Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-self/) > [Great is bookishness and the charm of books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-birrell/great-is-bookishness-and-the-charm-of-books/) [Augustine Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-birrell/) > [“Bookishness, an unfortunate trait for a girl, especially one who is not nice to look at.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-holden-rothman/bookishness-an-unfortunate-trait-for-a-girl-especially-one-who-is-not/) [Claire Holden Rothman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-holden-rothman/) > [“This is every reader's catch-22: the more you read, the more you realize you haven't read; the more you yearn to read more, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-paul/this-is-every-reader-s-catch-22-the-more-you-read-the-more-you/) [Pamela Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-paul/) > [“Whenever one of us introduced an old favorite, we savored the other's first delight like a shared meal eaten with a newly acquired gusto,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-paul/whenever-one-of-us-introduced-an-old-favorite-we-savored-the-other-s/) [Pamela Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-paul/) > [“All of us are writers reading other people's writing, turning pages or clicking to the next screen with pleasure and admiration. All of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-paul/all-of-us-are-writers-reading-other-people-s-writing-turning-pages-or/) [Pamela Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-paul/) > [“To whom do books belong? The books we read and the books we write are both ours and not ours. They're also theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-paul/to-whom-do-books-belong-the-books-we-read-and-the-books-we-write-are/) [Pamela Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-paul/) > [Maybe the Kindle was the Bowflex of bookishness: something expensive that, when you commit to it, forces you to do more of whatever it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/maybe-the-kindle-was-the-bowflex-of-bookishness-something-expensive/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [“Reading books by candlelight will make you blind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/reading-books-by-candlelight-will-make-you-blind/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [When we read a story, we inhabit it. The covers of the book are like a roof and four walls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/when-we-read-a-story-we-inhabit-it-the-covers-of-the-book-are-like-a/) [John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/) > [Love of books is the best of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-kennedy/love-of-books-is-the-best-of-all/) [Jackie Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-kennedy/) > [“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/) ## More by George R.R. Martin > [“Neither's the one you get, less you want me to see if your apple's ripe, yet. - Yoren”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/neither-s-the-one-you-get-less-you-want-me-to-see-if-your-apple-s/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“You are the queen, he ought to be begging leave of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/you-are-the-queen-he-ought-to-be-begging-leave-of-you/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“It is my look they will flinch from now, my frown that they must fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/it-is-my-look-they-will-flinch-from-now-my-frown-that-they-must-fear/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“A good threat is often more telling than a blow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/a-good-threat-is-often-more-telling-than-a-blow/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“This wine is very choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/this-wine-is-very-choice/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Everything Syrio Forel had ever taught her vanished in a heartbeat. In that instant of sudden terror, the only lesson Arya could remember was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/everything-syrio-forel-had-ever-taught-her-vanished-in-a-heartbeat-in/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Megga couldn’t sing, but she was mad to be kissed. She and Alla played a kissing game sometimes, she confessed, but it wasn’t the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/megga-couldn-t-sing-but-she-was-mad-to-be-kissed-she-and-alla-played/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“The rain feels good against my face, Sam. It feels like tears. Let me stay a while longer, I pray you. It has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-rain-feels-good-against-my-face-sam-it-feels-like-tears-let-me/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Every man who walks the earth casts a shadow on the world. Some are thin and weak, others long and dark.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/every-man-who-walks-the-earth-casts-a-shadow-on-the-world-some-are/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“The shy girl she had known at Riverrun had grown into a woman who was by turns proud, fearful, cruel, dreamy, reckless, timid, stubborn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-shy-girl-she-had-known-at-riverrun-had-grown-into-a-woman-who-was/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“He won the war on the battlefield and lost it in a bedchamber, poor fool.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/he-won-the-war-on-the-battlefield-and-lost-it-in-a-bedchamber-poor/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“On the morning after battle the crows had feasted on victors and vanquished alike. How much can a crown be worth when a crow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/on-the-morning-after-battle-the-crows-had-feasted-on-victors-and/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“The little man gave the big one a look. One of his eyes was green, one was black, and both were cool.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-little-man-gave-the-big-one-a-look-one-of-his-eyes-was-green-one/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Jon, could there be honor in a lie, if it were told for a...good purpose? - Samwell”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/jon-could-there-be-honor-in-a-lie-if-it-were-told-for-a-good-purpose/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“My mother said my father had a drop of dragon blood.” “Two drops. That, or a cock six feet long.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/my-mother-said-my-father-had-a-drop-of-dragon-blood-two-drops-that-or/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) [Explore all 1,761 George R.R. Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) ## More Bookishness quotes > [Maybe the Kindle was the Bowflex of bookishness: something expensive that, when you commit to it, forces you to do more of whatever it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/maybe-the-kindle-was-the-bowflex-of-bookishness-something-expensive/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [“To whom do books belong? The books we read and the books we write are both ours and not ours. They're also theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-paul/to-whom-do-books-belong-the-books-we-read-and-the-books-we-write-are/) [Pamela Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-paul/) > [“All of us are writers reading other people's writing, turning pages or clicking to the next screen with pleasure and admiration. All of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-paul/all-of-us-are-writers-reading-other-people-s-writing-turning-pages-or/) [Pamela Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-paul/) > [“Whenever one of us introduced an old favorite, we savored the other's first delight like a shared meal eaten with a newly acquired gusto,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-paul/whenever-one-of-us-introduced-an-old-favorite-we-savored-the-other-s/) [Pamela Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-paul/) > [“This is every reader's catch-22: the more you read, the more you realize you haven't read; the more you yearn to read more, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-paul/this-is-every-reader-s-catch-22-the-more-you-read-the-more-you/) [Pamela Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-paul/) > [“Bookishness, an unfortunate trait for a girl, especially one who is not nice to look at.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-holden-rothman/bookishness-an-unfortunate-trait-for-a-girl-especially-one-who-is-not/) [Claire Holden Rothman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-holden-rothman/) > [Great is bookishness and the charm of books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-birrell/great-is-bookishness-and-the-charm-of-books/) [Augustine Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-birrell/) > [“The book was thick and red. It was almost thicker than it was wide, a thickness that somehow enhanced its bookishness. It was -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-self/the-book-was-thick-and-red-it-was-almost-thicker-than-it-was-wide-a/) [Will Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-self/) > [“Books gnaw at me from around the edges of my life, demanding more time and attention. I am always left hungry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-paul/books-gnaw-at-me-from-around-the-edges-of-my-life-demanding-more-time/) [Pamela Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-paul/) > [“Before every elementary school classroom had a 'Drop Everything and Read' period, before parents and educators agonized more about children being glued to Call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-paul/before-every-elementary-school-classroom-had-a-drop-everything-and/) [Pamela Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-paul/) [Browse all 11 Bookishness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookishness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Reading books again? Books will ruin your sword eye, boy.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George R.R. 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