--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We really learn only from those books…" description: "\"“We really learn only from those books that we cannot judge. The author of a book that we were able to judge would have to learn from us.”\" — Johann Wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_authors_we-really-learn-only-from-those-books-th_2057362.jpg" --- # We really learn only from those books that we cannot… ![“We really learn only from those books that we cannot judge. The author of a book that we were able to judge would have to learn from us.” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_authors_we-really-learn-only-from-those-books-th_2057362.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_authors_we-really-learn-only-from-those-books-th_2057362.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_authors_we-really-learn-only-from-those-books-th_2057362.jpg) > ““We really learn only from those books that we cannot judge. The author of a book that we were able to judge would have to learn from us.”” [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Books we cannot fully judge teach us humility and deeper insight, unlike those we think we understand. **In simple terms:** Unjudged books teach more. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty in learning. Themes humility learning literature Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - reading - education - personal growth Key Concepts self‑reflection critical thinking interpretation Questions to Reflect On - What books challenge your assumptions? - How does uncertainty foster growth? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on familiar sources can limit perspective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authors/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Properly speaking, we learn from those books only that we cannot judge. The author of a book that I am competent to criticise would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/properly-speaking-we-learn-from-those-books-only-that-we-cannot-judge/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“If you cannot judge a book by its cover, surely we should not judge an author by one book alone?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-cannot-judge-a-book-by-its-cover-surely-we-should-not-judge-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's the rare book that's able to transport you in a way that a movie does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-easton-ellis/it-s-the-rare-book-that-s-able-to-transport-you-in-a-way-that-a-movie/) [Bret Easton Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-easton-ellis/) > [“Never judge an author by her haters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-millosovich/never-judge-an-author-by-her-haters/) Tracy Millosovich > [I wished critics would judge me as an author, not as a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-wished-critics-would-judge-me-as-an-author-not-as-a-woman/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“You should see my personality on every page of my book, because I am the author. The book reflects the personality of the author.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teodoro-a-agoncillo/you-should-see-my-personality-on-every-page-of-my-book-because-i-am/) [Teodoro A. Agoncillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teodoro-a-agoncillo/) > [I expect to think that I would rather be author of your book than of any other on Nat. Hist. Science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dalton-hooker/i-expect-to-think-that-i-would-rather-be-author-of-your-book-than-of/) [Joseph Dalton Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dalton-hooker/) > [There's this creative thing in me that wants to have my work used - like the author of a book who wants it read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goodnight/there-s-this-creative-thing-in-me-that-wants-to-have-my-work-used/) [James Goodnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goodnight/) > [I used to put black ink on the author's name in a book and write my name instead to check how it would look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gulzar/i-used-to-put-black-ink-on-the-author-s-name-in-a-book-and-write-my/) [Gulzar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gulzar/) > [“Being an author of a book is like being a mother of a debutante in the Middle Ages. You have to present your baby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvira-baryakina/being-an-author-of-a-book-is-like-being-a-mother-of-a-debutante-in/) Elvira Baryakina > [I see a lot of writers who complain when their book doesn't sell and the reason that happens sometimes, is they don't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-sampsell/i-see-a-lot-of-writers-who-complain-when-their-book-doesn-t-sell-and/) [Kevin Sampsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-sampsell/) > [When you read books, you kind of create that whole world in your mind, and you go on a journey with the author of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/when-you-read-books-you-kind-of-create-that-whole-world-in-your-mind/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [“Nobody's going to give you the gift of awesome. Nobody's going to make you good, or great, or amazing, or epic. Nobody's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/nobody-s-going-to-give-you-the-gift-of-awesome-nobody-s-going-to-make/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [I don't think that children, if left to themselves, feel that there is an author behind a book, a somebody who wrote it. Grown-ups…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-l-travers/i-don-t-think-that-children-if-left-to-themselves-feel-that-there-is/) [P. L. Travers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-l-travers/) > [When I was in my teens, I was very, very keen on being the author of a book. What the book was was secondary.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-was-very-very-keen-on-being-the-author-of-a/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## More by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [All lyrical work must, as a whole, be perfectly intelligible, but in some particulars a little unintelligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-lyrical-work-must-as-a-whole-be-perfectly-intelligible-but-in/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-is-no-patriotic-art-and-no-patriotic-science/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Let us not dream that reason can ever be popular. Passions, emotions, may be made popular; but reason remains ever the property of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/let-us-not-dream-that-reason-can-ever-be-popular-passions-emotions/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Our foibles are really what make us lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/our-foibles-are-really-what-make-us-lovable/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/instruction-does-much-but-encouragement-everything/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Giving is the business of the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/giving-is-the-business-of-the-rich/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/just-begin-and-the-mind-grows-heated-continue-and-the-task-will-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I look upon all four Gospels as thoroughly genuine, for there shines forth from them the reflected splendor of a sublimity proceeding from Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-look-upon-all-four-gospels-as-thoroughly-genuine-for-there-shines/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Explore all 2,052 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More Authors quotes > [The talk shows in the States want celebrities, not authors. In France, it is different; writers are called upon to comment on everything. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/the-talk-shows-in-the-states-want-celebrities-not-authors-in-france/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [“Today if anything is trying to hold you back, give no attention to it. Get your hopes up, get your faith up, look up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/today-if-anything-is-trying-to-hold-you-back-give-no-attention-to-it/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“By their very nature, idiots do not have the intellectual capacity to identify genius. All that idiots are mentally equipped to recognize are other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dermot-davis/by-their-very-nature-idiots-do-not-have-the-intellectual-capacity-to/) [Dermot Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dermot-davis/) > [“Authors go on writing books, and so we go on reading them. It is a sad state of affairs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-aston/authors-go-on-writing-books-and-so-we-go-on-reading-them-it-is-a-sad/) [Elizabeth Aston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-aston/) > [“Intercourse is one thing, Intimacy is everything. Be encouraged”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-e-wagner/intercourse-is-one-thing-intimacy-is-everything-be-encouraged/) [Kerry E. Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-e-wagner/) > [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [“Do you read them? Faulkner, Hemingway, Fitzgerald?" "Only if I have to. I try to avoid old dead white men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/do-you-read-them-faulkner-hemingway-fitzgerald-only-if-i-have-to-i/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [“Grayson: Fiction is just a lie anyway. Brianna: But it's not - it's a different kind of truth - it would be your truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/grayson-fiction-is-just-a-lie-anyway-brianna-but-it-s-not-it-s-a/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“How long has it been since you and me? Hugs and kisses. Blankets and snuggles. Our sparks smoldering without a fireplace. Losing time is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2019-fidelis-o-mkparu/how-long-has-it-been-since-you-and-me-hugs-and-kisses-blankets-and/) 2019 Fidelis O Mkparu > [“Authors: The only people you thank for leaving you emotionally devastated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/love-the-stacks-bookstore/authors-the-only-people-you-thank-for-leaving-you-emotionally/) Love The Stacks Bookstore > [“Authors, reviews are not for you. They are not for you. Authors, reviews are not for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacia-kane/authors-reviews-are-not-for-you-they-are-not-for-you-authors-reviews/) [Stacia Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacia-kane/) > [“I like to read as much as I can from every genre. That way, I can express my love for all writers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-selinsky/i-like-to-read-as-much-as-i-can-from-every-genre-that-way-i-can/) [Jen Selinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-selinsky/) > [“He's a liar for a living, all authors are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/he-s-a-liar-for-a-living-all-authors-are/) [Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/) > [“A writer writes regardless... even though... notwithstanding... despite... at any rate... anyhow... nevertheless... in the face of... undeterred by... heedless of... and because. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/a-writer-writes-regardless-even-though-notwithstanding-despite-at-any/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Crazy people love their Kindles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dermot-davis/crazy-people-love-their-kindles/) [Dermot Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dermot-davis/) [Browse all 529 Authors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We really learn only from those books that we cannot judge. 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