Bores Quote by James Russell Lowell
“It is curious how tyrannical the habit of reading is, and what shifts we make to escape thinking. There is no bore we dread being left alone with so much as our own minds.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Habit of Reading", 1850
Reading can become a controlling habit, and confronting one's own thoughts can be unsettling, yet it offers a path to escape mental stagnation.
In simple terms: Reading can dominate; confronting thoughts is unsettling.
Balance reading with introspection.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- mental health
- creative work
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize when a habit becomes oppressive?
- What practices help you engage thoughts constructively?
The habit may be hard to break without support.