--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Books you have read have already been…" description: "\"“Books you have read have already been experienced and their content is inside you, even if you don’t remember. So when deciding which books to keep, f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/marie-kondo-8259_book_books-you-have-read-have-already-been-ex_1243183.jpg" --- # Books you have read have already been experienced and… ![“Books you have read have already been experienced and their content is inside you, even if you don’t remember. So when deciding which books to keep, forget about whether you think you’ll read it again or whether you’ve mastered what’s inside. Instead, take each book in your hand and decide whether…” quote by Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/marie-kondo-8259_book_books-you-have-read-have-already-been-ex_1243183.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/marie-kondo-8259_book_books-you-have-read-have-already-been-ex_1243183.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/marie-kondo-8259_book_books-you-have-read-have-already-been-ex_1243183.jpg) > ““Books you have read have already been experienced and their content is inside you, even if you don’t remember. So when deciding which books to keep, forget about whether you think you’ll read it again or whether you’ve mastered what’s inside. Instead, take each book in your hand and decide whether it moves you or not.”” [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Books leave an imprint on us; their value lies in the emotional impact they have, not just recall or future use. **In simple terms:** Books affect you emotionally, not just intellectually. Key Takeaway Keep books that move you. Themes tidiness personal growth reading emotional resonance Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - decluttering - library organization - gift selection - personal reflection Key Concepts minimalism memory imprint psychology of objects Questions to Reflect On - Which book has subtly shaped your worldview? - How do you decide what emotional resonance matters? A Different Perspective Some books may seem irrelevant but hold subconscious influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Books Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books-read/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Books opened up a whole new world to me. Through them I discovered new ideas, traveled to new places, and met new people. Books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/books-opened-up-a-whole-new-world-to-me-through-them-i-discovered-new/) [Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/) > [“Books are in the mind, Grandfather Alessandro said. Too many books and you forget your body is in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-spanbauer/books-are-in-the-mind-grandfather-alessandro-said-too-many-books-and/) [Tom Spanbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-spanbauer/) > [“I remember the hours I had spent in Father's library, drugging myself with books so I could forget my doom for an hour..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamund-hodge/i-remember-the-hours-i-had-spent-in-father-s-library-drugging-myself/) [Rosamund Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamund-hodge/) > [“book at hand, which happened to be Monsieur”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/book-at-hand-which-happened-to-be-monsieur/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [“A book in the hand is worth a dozen TV shows in the bush.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-hank-buchmann/a-book-in-the-hand-is-worth-a-dozen-tv-shows-in-the-bush/) E. Hank Buchmann > [“There was nothing better than the feel of a book in your hand, listening to the crinkling sounds as you turned its pages and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-yrigollen/there-was-nothing-better-than-the-feel-of-a-book-in-your-hand/) [Astrid Yrigollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-yrigollen/) > [When I was a kid I was a huge reader, I always had a book in my hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-purser/when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-a-huge-reader-i-always-had-a-book-in-my-hand/) [Shannon Purser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-purser/) > [“When I think of you, and you are not here, I see you in my mind's eye always with a book in your hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/when-i-think-of-you-and-you-are-not-here-i-see-you-in-my-mind-s-eye/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I mean, if someone asked for my birth certificate, I'd get my baby book and hand it out and say 'Here it is.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicky-hartzler/i-mean-if-someone-asked-for-my-birth-certificate-i-d-get-my-baby-book/) [Vicky Hartzler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicky-hartzler/) > [With all editing, no matter how sensitive - and I've been very lucky here - I react sulkily at first, but then I settle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/with-all-editing-no-matter-how-sensitive-and-i-ve-been-very-lucky/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [When I think of you, and you are not there, I see you in my mind's eye always with a book in your hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/when-i-think-of-you-and-you-are-not-there-i-see-you-in-my-mind-s-eye/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Wherever we are, we can improve our chances of getting ahead by keeping a book in hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hyatt/wherever-we-are-we-can-improve-our-chances-of-getting-ahead-by/) [Michael Hyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hyatt/) > [“Read a book, words by words, to find a story within and be amazed. Your heart will make that poor written book into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-aksara/read-a-book-words-by-words-to-find-a-story-within-and-be-amazed-your/) [Adam Aksara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-aksara/) > [With a book in your hand...you can go anywhere you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-a-book-in-your-hand-you-can-go-anywhere-you-want/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“With my book in one hand And my drink in the other What more could I want But fame, Better health, And ten million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-burke/with-my-book-in-one-hand-and-my-drink-in-the-other-what-more-could-i/) [Kenneth Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-burke/) ## More by Marie Kondō > [I had been so focused on what to discard, on attacking the unwanted obstacles around me, that I had forgotten to cherish the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-had-been-so-focused-on-what-to-discard-on-attacking-the-unwanted/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“If you tidy your house all at once, you’ll rebound. It’s better to make it a habit to do a little at a time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/if-you-tidy-your-house-all-at-once-you-ll-rebound-it-s-better-to-make/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [Being packed all the time, even when not in use, must feel something like going to bed on an empty stomach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/being-packed-all-the-time-even-when-not-in-use-must-feel-something/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [I'd like to tidy up the entire planet. I would go anywhere if there were something that needs tidying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-d-like-to-tidy-up-the-entire-planet-i-would-go-anywhere-if-there/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“By handling each sentimental item and deciding what to discard, you process your past. If you just stow these things away in a drawer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/by-handling-each-sentimental-item-and-deciding-what-to-discard-you/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now. Not for the person we were in the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/the-space-in-which-we-live-should-be-for-the-person-we-are-becoming/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [I recommend tidying by category, not by place. For example, instead of deciding that today you'll tidy a particular room, set goals such as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-recommend-tidying-by-category-not-by-place-for-example-instead-of/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“By acknowledging their contribution and letting them go with gratitude, you will be able to truly put the things you own, and your life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/by-acknowledging-their-contribution-and-letting-them-go-with/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/keep-only-those-things-that-speak-to-your-heart-then-take-the-plunge/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“people who use the KonMari Method never revert to clutter again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/people-who-use-the-konmari-method-never-revert-to-clutter-again/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“Treat your socks and stockings with respect”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/treat-your-socks-and-stockings-with-respect/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [Once you learn to choose your belongings properly, you will be left with only the amount that fits perfectly in the space you own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/once-you-learn-to-choose-your-belongings-properly-you-will-be-left/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“Sorting papers Rule of thumb—discard everything Once”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/sorting-papers-rule-of-thumb-discard-everything-once/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [I had a slight hope the phrase 'spark joy' might become popular, as it was the keyword that I wanted to put forward in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-had-a-slight-hope-the-phrase-spark-joy-might-become-popular-as-it/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“The recent trend in Japan is to utilize time in the early morning to take seminars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/the-recent-trend-in-japan-is-to-utilize-time-in-the-early-morning-to/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) [Explore all 75 Marie Kondō quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) ## More Book 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Books you have read have already been experienced and their content is inside you, even if you don’t remember. 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