Books Quote by J.R.R. Tolkien
““That Tolkien also included in Roverandom words such as paraphernalia, and phosphorescent, primordial, and rigmarole, is refreshing in these later days when such language is considered too ‘difficult’ for young children – a view with which Tolkien would have disagreed. ‘A good vocabulary,’ he once wrote (April 1959), ‘is not acquired by reading books written according to some notion of the vocabulary of one’s age-group. It comes from reading books above one’ (Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien [1981], pp. 298–9).””
About This Quote
Source Letter: Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, 1981, pp. 298–9
A rich vocabulary develops by reading challenging material beyond one's age, not by limiting exposure to simplified texts.
In simple terms: Read harder books to grow vocabulary.
Key Takeaway
Seek complex reading.
Themes
education
language development
literacy
Mood
inspirational
encouraging
Type
educational
literary
When to use this quote
- classroom curricula
- parental guidance
- self‑study
- library programs
Key Concepts
cognitive development
linguistics
Questions to Reflect On
- What challenging books can you add to your reading list?
- How can you balance difficulty with comprehension?
A Different Perspective
Access to advanced texts may be limited for some.
