--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The intellectual is, quite simply, a…" description: "\"The intellectual is, quite simply, a human being who has a pencil in his or her hand when reading a book.\" — George Steiner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/george-steiner-4683_book_the-intellectual-is-quite-simply-a-human_1230564.jpg" --- # The intellectual is, quite simply, a human being who has a… ![“The intellectual is, quite simply, a human being who has a pencil in his or her hand when reading a book.” quote by George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/george-steiner-4683_book_the-intellectual-is-quite-simply-a-human_1230564.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/george-steiner-4683_book_the-intellectual-is-quite-simply-a-human_1230564.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/george-steiner-4683_book_the-intellectual-is-quite-simply-a-human_1230564.jpg) > “The intellectual is, quite simply, a human being who has a pencil in his or her hand when reading a book.” [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An intellectual engages deeply with reading, using a pencil as a tool for active thought. **In simple terms:** Intellectuals read with a pencil in hand. Key Takeaway Read actively, annotate thoughts. Themes education reading critical thinking Mood thoughtful analytical Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - academic study - literary analysis - personal learning Key Concepts annotation engagement scholarship Questions to Reflect On - Do you annotate while reading? - How does writing affect comprehension? A Different Perspective May be seen as elitist or exclusive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Intellectualism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectualism/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading A Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-a-book/) ## Related quotes > [“For I aint, you must know,' said Betty, 'much of a hand at reading writing-hand, though I can read my Bible and most print.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/for-i-aint-you-must-know-said-betty-much-of-a-hand-at-reading-writing/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I don’t really know what “intellectual” means, but if it means you’ve got a desire to learn, you’ve got a desire to look for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-doherty/i-don-t-really-know-what-intellectual-means-but-if-it-means-you-ve/) [Pete Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-doherty/) > [“I am only a pencil in the hand of God, but it is He who writes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-am-only-a-pencil-in-the-hand-of-god-but-it-is-he-who-writes/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [I think best with a pencil in my hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/i-think-best-with-a-pencil-in-my-hand/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [I am only a little pencil in the hand of our Lord. He may cut or sharpen the pencil. He may write or draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-am-only-a-little-pencil-in-the-hand-of-our-lord-he-may-cut-or/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [A pencil in my hand, its secret life / is charcoal, the wood already burnt, / a sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-boruch/a-pencil-in-my-hand-its-secret-life-is-charcoal-the-wood-already/) [Marianne Boruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-boruch/) > [You remember how you were taught to write. Your mother put a pencil in your hand, took your hand in hers, and began to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-of-sourozh/you-remember-how-you-were-taught-to-write-your-mother-put-a-pencil-in/) [Anthony of Sourozh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-of-sourozh/) > [I'm born with a pencil in my hand. 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