--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not the reading of many books which…" description: "\"It is not the reading of many books which is necessary to make a man wise or good; but well reading of a few.\" — Richard Baxter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/richard-baxter-2985_book_it-is-not-the-reading-of-many-books-whic_1726685.png" --- # It is not the reading of many books which is necessary to… ![“It is not the reading of many books which is necessary to make a man wise or good; but well reading of a few.” quote by Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/richard-baxter-2985_book_it-is-not-the-reading-of-many-books-whic_1726685.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/richard-baxter-2985_book_it-is-not-the-reading-of-many-books-whic_1726685.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/richard-baxter-2985_book_it-is-not-the-reading-of-many-books-whic_1726685.png) > “It is not the reading of many books which is necessary to make a man wise or good; but well reading of a few.” [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wisdom comes from deep, selective study rather than superficial breadth. **In simple terms:** Quality over quantity in reading. Key Takeaway Read few, read well. Themes wisdom education reading Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - academic study - leadership training Key Concepts selective learning depth critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What books have shaped your thinking most? - How can you balance depth and breadth? A Different Perspective Limited reading may miss diverse perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Books Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books-necessary-1389741/) [Good reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-reading/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [Man Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-wise/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-books/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-good-343599/) ## Related quotes > [It is not the reading of many books which is necessary to make a man wise or good, but the well-reading of a few,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/it-is-not-the-reading-of-many-books-which-is-necessary-to-make-a-man-2/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [In proportion as society refines, new books must ever become more necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/in-proportion-as-society-refines-new-books-must-ever-become-more/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Those who cultivate letters must be supplied with the books necessary for their purpose; and until this supply is secured I shall not rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldus-manutius/those-who-cultivate-letters-must-be-supplied-with-the-books-necessary/) [Aldus Manutius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldus-manutius/) > [To a wise and good man the whole earth is his fatherland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/to-a-wise-and-good-man-the-whole-earth-is-his-fatherland/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [“Even if we’ve never met them in person but only heard about them in stories, we are drawn to the wise and good, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-j-robertson/even-if-we-ve-never-met-them-in-person-but-only-heard-about-them-in/) [Donald J. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-j-robertson/) > [Of all knowledge the wise and good seek most to know themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/of-all-knowledge-the-wise-and-good-seek-most-to-know-themselves/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [It is possible that a wise and good man may be prevailed on to game; but it is impossi∣ble that a professed gamester should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/it-is-possible-that-a-wise-and-good-man-may-be-prevailed-on-to-game/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [People who are wise, good, smart, skillful, or hardworking don't need politics, they have jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/people-who-are-wise-good-smart-skillful-or-hardworking-don-t-need/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“We're neither pure, nor wise, nor good We'll do the best we know. We'll build our house and chop our wood And make our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/we-re-neither-pure-nor-wise-nor-good-we-ll-do-the-best-we-know-we-ll/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [Learn everything you can - everything. And then use all that you have learned to grow up too be a wise and good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/learn-everything-you-can-everything-and-then-use-all-that-you-have/) [Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/) > [A wise and good man will turn examples of all sorts to his own advantage. The good he will make his patterns, and strive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/a-wise-and-good-man-will-turn-examples-of-all-sorts-to-his-own/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“I will bestir myself,' was her resolution, 'and try to be wise if I cannot be good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-will-bestir-myself-was-her-resolution-and-try-to-be-wise-if-i/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [How I wish that somewhere there existed an island for those who are wise and of good will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/how-i-wish-that-somewhere-there-existed-an-island-for-those-who-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The wise man delights in water, the Good man delights in mountains. For the wise move; but the Good stay still. The wise are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-wise-man-delights-in-water-the-good-man-delights-in-mountains-for/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [We’re neither pure, nor wise, nor good; we do the best we know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-re-neither-pure-nor-wise-nor-good-we-do-the-best-we-know/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## More by Richard Baxter > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Most (Christians) have an ungrounded trust in Christ, hoping that He will pardon, justify and save them, while the world has their hearts, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/most-christians-have-an-ungrounded-trust-in-christ-hoping-that-he/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [My Lord, I have nothing to do in this World, but to seek and serve thee; I have nothing to do with a Heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/my-lord-i-have-nothing-to-do-in-this-world-but-to-seek-and-serve-thee/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [We must feel toward our people as a father toward his children; yea, the most tender love of a mother must not surpass ours.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/we-must-feel-toward-our-people-as-a-father-toward-his-children-yea/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [We are ignorant of things necessary, because we learn things superfluous and unnecessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/we-are-ignorant-of-things-necessary-because-we-learn-things/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [In a divine commonwealth holiness must have the principal honor and encouragement, and a great difference be made between the precious and the vile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/in-a-divine-commonwealth-holiness-must-have-the-principal-honor-and/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [God takes men's hearty desires and will, instead of the deed, where they have not power to fulfill it; but he never took the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/god-takes-men-s-hearty-desires-and-will-instead-of-the-deed-where/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Surely love is both work and wages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/surely-love-is-both-work-and-wages/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Naturally, men are prone to spin themselves a web of opinions out of their own brain, and to have a religion that may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/naturally-men-are-prone-to-spin-themselves-a-web-of-opinions-out-of/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [“God never saved any man for being a preacher, nor because he was an able preacher; but because he was a justified, sanctified man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/god-never-saved-any-man-for-being-a-preacher-nor-because-he-was-an/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [A man pleaser cannot be true to God, because he is a servant to the enemies of his service; the wind of a man's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/a-man-pleaser-cannot-be-true-to-god-because-he-is-a-servant-to-the/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [“He is not drowning His sheep when He washeth them, nor killing them when He is shearing them. But by this He showeth that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/he-is-not-drowning-his-sheep-when-he-washeth-them-nor-killing-them/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Get masters of families to do their duty, and they will not only spare you a great deal of labor, but will much further…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/get-masters-of-families-to-do-their-duty-and-they-will-not-only-spare/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Christ leads me through no darker rooms than He went through before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/christ-leads-me-through-no-darker-rooms-than-he-went-through-before/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Such is the depth of the Christian Scriptures, that even if I were attempting to study them and nothing else from early boyhood to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/such-is-the-depth-of-the-christian-scriptures-that-even-if-i-were/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) [Explore all 143 Richard Baxter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) ## 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": "It is not the reading of many books which is necessary to make a man wise or good; but well reading of a few.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Baxter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/it-is-not-the-reading-of-many-books-which-is-necessary-to-make-a-man/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Book" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/it-is-not-the-reading-of-many-books-which-is-necessary-to-make-a-man/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/richard-baxter-2985_book_it-is-not-the-reading-of-many-books-whic_1726685.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/richard-baxter-2985_book_it-is-not-the-reading-of-many-books-whic_1726685.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/richard-baxter-2985_book_it-is-not-the-reading-of-many-books-whic_1726685.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not the reading of many books which is necessary to make a man wise or good; but well reading of a few.” — Richard Baxter", "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": "Richard Baxter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is not the reading of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/it-is-not-the-reading-of-many-books-which-is-necessary-to-make-a-man/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/it-is-not-the-reading-of-many-books-which-is-necessary-to-make-a-man/#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 } } ] } ```