Books Quote by John Irving
““She was a passionate reader, and she thought that reading was one of the noblest efforts of all; in contrast, she found writing to be a great waste of time—a childish self-indulgence, even messier than finger painting—but she admired reading, which she believed was an unselfish activity that provided information and inspiration. She must have thought it a pity that some poor fools had to waste their lives writing in order for us to have sufficient reading material. (page 236)””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The World According to Garp, 1978 (page 236)
The narrator values reading as a noble, selfless act, while viewing writing as frivolous and self‑indulgent.
In simple terms: Reading is noble; writing is seen as wasteful.
Key Takeaway
Consider the purpose and value of your creative work.
Themes
literature
self‑esteem
valuation
Mood
contemplative
critical
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- educational settings
- writing workshops
- personal reflection
- literary criticism
Key Concepts
artistic purpose
creative hierarchy
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you agree that reading is more selfless than writing?
- How might writing serve society?
A Different Perspective
Writing can also be meaningful and impactful.
![“JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" [Owen Meany] said crossly. "LOOK AT THOSE WEIRDO TV MIRACLE-WORKERS--THEY'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN MAGIC! BUT THE REAL MIRACLES AREN'T ANYTHING YOU CAN…” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70e/john-irving-337_atheists_just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-bet_31804.jpg)
