--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We encounter great souls by reading great…" description: "\"“We encounter great souls by reading great books.”\" — Lailah Gifty Akita" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/lailah-gifty-akita-11_books_we-encounter-great-souls-by-reading-grea_429123.jpg" --- # We encounter great souls by reading great books. ![“We encounter great souls by reading great books.” quote by Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/lailah-gifty-akita-11_books_we-encounter-great-souls-by-reading-grea_429123.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/lailah-gifty-akita-11_books_we-encounter-great-souls-by-reading-grea_429123.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/lailah-gifty-akita-11_books_we-encounter-great-souls-by-reading-grea_429123.jpg) > ““We encounter great souls by reading great books.”” [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading great books introduces readers to profound, inspiring individuals **In simple terms:** Books connect us to remarkable people Key Takeaway Seek out impactful literature Themes learning inspiration literature Mood thoughtful encouraging Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - book clubs - education - personal development - creative writing Key Concepts role models intellectual growth cultural insight Questions to Reflect On - What qualities make a soul "great"? - How can diverse voices broaden our understanding? A Different Perspective Great books can be inaccessible to some ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Great men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-men/) [Great souls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-souls/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Lifelong learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifelong-learner/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Wisdom-of-lailah-gifty-akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-of-lailah-gifty-akita/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Curiosity is the art of creativity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/curiosity-is-the-art-of-creativity/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Reading great books gives insight to the mind of great souls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/reading-great-books-gives-insight-to-the-mind-of-great-souls/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Reading great books always gives me the worst sleeping disorders.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/love-the-stacks-bookstore/reading-great-books-always-gives-me-the-worst-sleeping-disorders/) Love The Stacks Bookstore > [“Do you encounter a great deal of . . . factionalism in your area of the colony?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/do-you-encounter-a-great-deal-of-factionalism-in-your-area-of-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“The reading of great books awaken and brightens the light of my soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-reading-of-great-books-awaken-and-brightens-the-light-of-my-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Reading is a great treasure of enlightenment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/reading-is-a-great-treasure-of-enlightenment/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Neither compares nor competes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/neither-compares-nor-competes/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“May you find endless enthusiasm to achieve your dreams in the coming year.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/may-you-find-endless-enthusiasm-to-achieve-your-dreams-in-the-coming/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Act as if it was, and it will be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/act-as-if-it-was-and-it-will-be/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Curiosity is the beginning of all creativity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/curiosity-is-the-beginning-of-all-creativity/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Only the bold dare to try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/only-the-bold-dare-to-try/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The courage to try again is daring spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-courage-to-try-again-is-daring-spirit/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“No experience is wasted. It is the stepping stones for a great success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/no-experience-is-wasted-it-is-the-stepping-stones-for-a-great-success/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Every great achiever is inspired by a great mentor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-great-achiever-is-inspired-by-a-great-mentor/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“There is an overflowing grace, for every great work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/there-is-an-overflowing-grace-for-every-great-work/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## More by Lailah Gifty Akita > [“What can we do in any hardship? We can hope with prayerful praise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/what-can-we-do-in-any-hardship-we-can-hope-with-prayerful-praise/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Serve in the grace of strength within thy soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/serve-in-the-grace-of-strength-within-thy-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“You are destiny for greatness. Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Great things can be accomplish with passionate enthusiasm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/great-things-can-be-accomplish-with-passionate-enthusiasm/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Whoever sees the Saviour, the light of life, shall be satisfied in spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/whoever-sees-the-saviour-the-light-of-life-shall-be-satisfied-in/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Sanctification comes from the Holy Spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/sanctification-comes-from-the-holy-spirit/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“We have grace of strength to work, to clear our cities of any dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-have-grace-of-strength-to-work-to-clear-our-cities-of-any-dirt/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The final destination is death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-final-destination-is-death/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“You must enjoy and treasure every moment of your journey on earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-must-enjoy-and-treasure-every-moment-of-your-journey-on-earth/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“God is the Wonderful Counselor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/god-is-the-wonderful-counselor/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) [Explore all 4,135 Lailah Gifty Akita quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## 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. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. 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. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We encounter great souls by reading great books.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lailah Gifty Akita" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-encounter-great-souls-by-reading-great-books/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-encounter-great-souls-by-reading-great-books/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/lailah-gifty-akita-11_books_we-encounter-great-souls-by-reading-grea_429123.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/lailah-gifty-akita-11_books_we-encounter-great-souls-by-reading-grea_429123.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/lailah-gifty-akita-11_books_we-encounter-great-souls-by-reading-grea_429123.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We encounter great souls by reading great books.” — Lailah Gifty Akita", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lailah Gifty Akita", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We encounter great souls by reading...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-encounter-great-souls-by-reading-great-books/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-encounter-great-souls-by-reading-great-books/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```