--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm quite illiterate, but I read a lot." description: "\"I'm quite illiterate, but I read a lot.\" — J. D. Salinger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a39/j-d-salinger-2-3505_books_i-m-quite-illiterate-but-i-read-a-lot-31_3158062.jpg" --- # I'm quite illiterate, but I read a lot. ![“I'm quite illiterate, but I read a lot.” quote by J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a39/j-d-salinger-2-3505_books_i-m-quite-illiterate-but-i-read-a-lot-31_3158062.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a39/j-d-salinger-2-3505_books_i-m-quite-illiterate-but-i-read-a-lot-31_3158062.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a39/j-d-salinger-2-3505_books_i-m-quite-illiterate-but-i-read-a-lot-31_3158062.jpg) > “I'm quite illiterate, but I read a lot.” [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even without formal education, reading enriches the mind. **In simple terms:** Reading teaches despite illiteracy. Key Takeaway Read widely to grow. Themes education reading self‑improvement Mood reflective motivated Type philosophical encouraging When to use this quote - self‑study - personal development - career learning Key Concepts knowledge curiosity literacy Questions to Reflect On - What books have shaped your worldview? - How can informal learning complement formal education? A Different Perspective Reading alone may not replace formal skills. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Illiterate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illiterate/) [Illiterate Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illiterate-read-4461651/) [Quite Illiterate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quite-illiterate-5697386/) [Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read/) [Read Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-lot/) ## Related quotes > [ This great Mughal Emperor \[Akbar\] was illiterate; he could neither read nor write. However, that had not stopped Akbar from cultivating the acquaintance of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indu-sundaresan/this-great-mughal-emperor-akbar-was-illiterate-he-could-neither-read/) [Indu Sundaresan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indu-sundaresan/) > [I read all the time... I read a lot of history books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-spillane/i-read-all-the-time-i-read-a-lot-of-history-books/) [Mickey Spillane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-spillane/) > [Well, I just love to read books. I read a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shriya-saran/well-i-just-love-to-read-books-i-read-a-lot/) [Shriya Saran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shriya-saran/) > [I definitely read a lot of Marvel stuff when I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/i-definitely-read-a-lot-of-marvel-stuff-when-i-was-a-kid/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) > [I would always read a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordae/i-would-always-read-a-lot/) [Cordae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordae/) > [I read a lot of war literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-stanford/i-read-a-lot-of-war-literature/) [Aaron Stanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-stanford/) > [I read a lot of script. In my opinion, most of them aren't good or aren't about people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-read-a-lot-of-script-in-my-opinion-most-of-them-aren-t-good-or-aren/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [Well, the first thing I had to do was to read a lot. First of all, about education... and looking at education from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/well-the-first-thing-i-had-to-do-was-to-read-a-lot-first-of-all-about/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [“Read a lot. Write a lot. Delete a lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-richell/read-a-lot-write-a-lot-delete-a-lot/) [Hannah Richell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-richell/) > [“I've read a lot of books, so I know bunches of stuff that sounds like it could be true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/i-ve-read-a-lot-of-books-so-i-know-bunches-of-stuff-that-sounds-like/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [I don't know where my romanticism comes from. My mom and dad would read to me a lot. 'Treasure Island,' 'Robinson Crusoe,' tales of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-don-t-know-where-my-romanticism-comes-from-my-mom-and-dad-would/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I read a lot of scripts. Most of 'em go to other actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-elliott/i-read-a-lot-of-scripts-most-of-em-go-to-other-actors/) [Sam Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-elliott/) > [I read a lot. I always have, but in those two years I gorged myself on books with a voluptuous, almost erotic gluttony. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/i-read-a-lot-i-always-have-but-in-those-two-years-i-gorged-myself-on/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [Read a lot. Read broadly... Tell stories to your friends, and pay attention to when they get bored... Write a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/read-a-lot-read-broadly-tell-stories-to-your-friends-and-pay/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I really had a lot of dreams when I was a kid, and I think a great deal of that grew out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-really-had-a-lot-of-dreams-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-think-a-great/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## More by J. D. Salinger > [... even the most sublimely accomplished non-stop talker can't consistently please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/even-the-most-sublimely-accomplished-non-stop-talker-can-t/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [But where does by far the bulk, the whole ambulance load, of pain really come from? Where must it come from? Isn't the true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/but-where-does-by-far-the-bulk-the-whole-ambulance-load-of-pain/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [“Nobody'd be different. The only thing that would be different would be you. Not that you'd be so much older or anything. It wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/nobody-d-be-different-the-only-thing-that-would-be-different-would-be/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [Sex is something I really don't understand too hot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/sex-is-something-i-really-don-t-understand-too-hot/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [“Meant-to-be-picked-up books. Permanently-left-behind books. Uncertain-what-to-do-with books. But books, books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/meant-to-be-picked-up-books-permanently-left-behind-books-uncertain/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [But if we come back, if German men come back, if British men come back, and Japs, and French, and all the other men,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/but-if-we-come-back-if-german-men-come-back-if-british-men-come-back/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [Then again you may pick up just enough education to hate people who say, 'It's a secret between he and I.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/then-again-you-may-pick-up-just-enough-education-to-hate-people-who/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [The worst thing that being an artist could do to you would be that it would make you slightly unhappy constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/the-worst-thing-that-being-an-artist-could-do-to-you-would-be-that-it/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [I'm sick of not having the courage to be an absolute nobody. I'm sick of myself and everybody else that wants to make some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/i-m-sick-of-not-having-the-courage-to-be-an-absolute-nobody-i-m-sick/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [“You keep records of their troubles. You’ll learn from them. If you want to Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/you-keep-records-of-their-troubles-you-ll-learn-from-them-if-you-want/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [I'm aware that many of my friends will be saddened and shocked, or shock-saddened, over some of the chapters in 'The Catcher In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/i-m-aware-that-many-of-my-friends-will-be-saddened-and-shocked-or/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [Most stuff that is genuine is better left unsaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/most-stuff-that-is-genuine-is-better-left-unsaid/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [“Sex is something I really don't understand too hot. You never know where the hell you are. I keep making up these sex rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/sex-is-something-i-really-don-t-understand-too-hot-you-never-know/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [An artist's only concern is to shoot for some kind of perfection, and on his own terms, not anyone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/an-artist-s-only-concern-is-to-shoot-for-some-kind-of-perfection-and/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [Its really hard to be roommates with people if your suitcases are much better than theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/its-really-hard-to-be-roommates-with-people-if-your-suitcases-are/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) [Explore all 121 J. D. Salinger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. 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There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. 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