Books Quote by Philip Larkin
““When getting my nose in a book Cured most things short of school, It was worth ruining my eyes To know I could still keep cool, And deal out the old right hook To dirty dogs twice my size. Later, with inch-thick specs, Evil was just my lark: Me and my coat and fangs Had ripping times in the dark. The women I clubbed with sex! I broke them up like meringues. Don't read much now: the dude Who lets the girl down before The hero arrives, the chap Who's yellow and keeps the store Seem far too familiar. Get stewed: Books are a load of crap. (A Study Of Reading Habits) ””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “A Study Of Reading Habits” by Philip Larkin, 1970
The speaker satizes the contradictory effects of reading, both as escapism and as a source of disillusionment, and ultimately dismisses books as burdensome.
In simple terms: Reading can both help and hurt; the speaker grows cynical about books.
Key Takeaway
Recognize when reading no longer serves you.
Themes
literature
disillusionment
escapism
cynicism
Mood
reflective
skeptical
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- academic study
- mental health
- creative writing
Key Concepts
nihilism
selfreflection
identitycrisis
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you still find value in reading?
- When does reading become a hindrance?
A Different Perspective
Books may become oppressive if they replace real experience.
![“He that loves a book will never want a [close] friend, a wholesome counselor, a cheerful companion, an effectual comforter. By study, by reading, by thinking, one may innocently divert and pleasantly entertain himself, as in all weathers, as in all fortunes.” quote by Isaac Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fa4/isaac-barrow-13537_book_he-that-loves-a-book-will-never-want-a-c_998110.jpg)
