--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is now 55 years since my last book…" description: "\"“It is now 55 years since my last book report, which is a long time to live with a guilty conscience. So here it is: In the spring of 1956 I wrote a hi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daa/pete-dexter-27769_books_it-is-now-55-years-since-my-last-book-re_2582878.jpg" --- # It is now 55 years since my last book report, which is a… ![“It is now 55 years since my last book report, which is a long time to live with a guilty conscience. So here it is: In the spring of 1956 I wrote a highly favorable review of the Bible without reading a word of it, and it was the last A I ever got in English. Why it has taken so long to come clean…” quote by Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daa/pete-dexter-27769_books_it-is-now-55-years-since-my-last-book-re_2582878.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daa/pete-dexter-27769_books_it-is-now-55-years-since-my-last-book-re_2582878.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daa/pete-dexter-27769_books_it-is-now-55-years-since-my-last-book-re_2582878.jpg) > ““It is now 55 years since my last book report, which is a long time to live with a guilty conscience. So here it is: In the spring of 1956 I wrote a highly favorable review of the Bible without reading a word of it, and it was the last A I ever got in English. Why it has taken so long to come clean I'm not sure, except I have always been extremely sensitive about my academic reputation.”” [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He admits to a past academic deceit about the Bible, revealing lingering guilt and concern for reputation. **In simple terms:** Admitting past mistakes can be painful. Key Takeaway Own up to past errors. Themes guilt integrity reputation Mood confessional introspective Type personal ethical When to use this quote - academic writing - public speaking - personal reflection Key Concepts academic honesty personal accountability Questions to Reflect On - Why did you hide the truth? - How does guilt affect your work? A Different Perspective Fear of reputation damage may hinder honesty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1956 Wrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1956-wrote-1792924/) [55 Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/55-years-1792922/) [Book Report](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-report-1792919/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Guilty conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty-conscience/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Review Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/review-bible-1792921/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The only book I ever read cover to cover was The Pete Rose Story. 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Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-m-martin/) > [You just don't go out when you're over 55 years of age, have a colossal failure, and expect to find work in your field again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ailes/you-just-don-t-go-out-when-you-re-over-55-years-of-age-have-a/) [Roger Ailes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ailes/) > [My mum and dad were together 55 years, I don't think they spent a day apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/my-mum-and-dad-were-together-55-years-i-don-t-think-they-spent-a-day/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [“After 55 years at the bar and a career as a law professor it may seem strange that I wouild write a novel. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-j-bowman/after-55-years-at-the-bar-and-a-career-as-a-law-professor-it-may-seem/) [F.J. Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-j-bowman/) > [I've been around the block a lot and I've had a merry trail for 55 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-stiller/i-ve-been-around-the-block-a-lot-and-i-ve-had-a-merry-trail-for-55/) [Jerry Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-stiller/) > [We do not need to end Medicare. We don't need to throw people who are younger than 55 years old to the wolves which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-wasserman-schultz/we-do-not-need-to-end-medicare-we-don-t-need-to-throw-people-who-are/) [Debbie Wasserman Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-wasserman-schultz/) > [Generation X is dead. It has come to mean anyone aged 13 to 55 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/generation-x-is-dead-it-has-come-to-mean-anyone-aged-13-to-55-years/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [“Our goal isn't outrageous. We simply want to live in dignity on our own land, see a just solution for the refugees, and closure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanan-ashrawi/our-goal-isn-t-outrageous-we-simply-want-to-live-in-dignity-on-our/) [Hanan Ashrawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanan-ashrawi/) > [I worked for suffrage for years, and got it. I've worked for peace for 55 years and haven't come close.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-rankin/i-worked-for-suffrage-for-years-and-got-it-i-ve-worked-for-peace-for/) [Jeannette Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-rankin/) > [I'm out to prove that a guy 55 years old, with one foot in the grave, can play with the best woman in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-riggs/i-m-out-to-prove-that-a-guy-55-years-old-with-one-foot-in-the-grave/) [Bobby Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-riggs/) > [I have a house that I bought 55 years ago. It's warm in the winter; it's cool in the summer. It has everything I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-have-a-house-that-i-bought-55-years-ago-it-s-warm-in-the-winter-it/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [A lot of people resent that I've been in someone's life for 50 years. Why shouldn't people have an affection for me and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/a-lot-of-people-resent-that-i-ve-been-in-someone-s-life-for-50-years/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [Just recently up in Utah, some guy got 55 years for selling an ounce of pot to an undercover agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/just-recently-up-in-utah-some-guy-got-55-years-for-selling-an-ounce/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) ## More by Pete Dexter > [“In the beginning the stories were long and colored, but as he grew old and his eyes clouded, the stories were told in only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/in-the-beginning-the-stories-were-long-and-colored-but-as-he-grew-old/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [“No one mentions that now, and I suppose no one is inclined to bring it up, particularly not my father, who in other matters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/no-one-mentions-that-now-and-i-suppose-no-one-is-inclined-to-bring-it/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [“and low-life cable network producers, who have never had a thought in their heads that did not come from something else they saw on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/and-low-life-cable-network-producers-who-have-never-had-a-thought-in/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [Nothing looks more foolish than tradition to those who have none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/nothing-looks-more-foolish-than-tradition-to-those-who-have-none/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [“I had noticed, even then, that there were certain women whom other women instinctively disliked, and that these women invariably had more bait in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/i-had-noticed-even-then-that-there-were-certain-women-whom-other/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [“...without moving a muscle in his face, slips away; retreats, I think, to that sheltered place where his stories are kept. 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