--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reading is like breathing. If you take it…" description: "\"Reading is like breathing. If you take it away, first I become antsy, then violent.\" — Robert Jordan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/robert-jordan-438_breathing_reading-is-like-breathing-if-you-take-it_2143268.jpg" --- # Reading is like breathing. If you take it away, first I… ![“Reading is like breathing. If you take it away, first I become antsy, then violent.” quote by Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/robert-jordan-438_breathing_reading-is-like-breathing-if-you-take-it_2143268.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/robert-jordan-438_breathing_reading-is-like-breathing-if-you-take-it_2143268.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/robert-jordan-438_breathing_reading-is-like-breathing-if-you-take-it_2143268.jpg) > “Reading is like breathing. If you take it away, first I become antsy, then violent.” [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading is essential for mental health; its loss leads to restlessness and aggression. **In simple terms:** Reading is vital, loss causes agitation. Key Takeaway Prioritize regular reading. Themes mental health habits emotional regulation Mood calm reflective Type advice observational When to use this quote - studying - commuting - relaxation - stress relief Key Concepts psychology literature addiction Questions to Reflect On - How does reading calm your mind? - What alternatives soothe you? A Different Perspective May not apply to non‑readers or those with different coping mechanisms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Antsy Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antsy-violent-4473099/) [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Breathing Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing-away-852972/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Like Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-breathing/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-like/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Reading is like breathing in, writing is like breathing out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-allyn/reading-is-like-breathing-in-writing-is-like-breathing-out/) [Pam Allyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-allyn/) > [“Reading is like breathing. Reading the classics is like breathing highly oxygenated air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-greensmith/reading-is-like-breathing-reading-the-classics-is-like-breathing/) [Jane Greensmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-greensmith/) > [“Asking me if I like reading is like asking me if I like breathing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymus/asking-me-if-i-like-reading-is-like-asking-me-if-i-like-breathing/) [Anonymus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymus/) > [“If reading is like breathing then writing is like the beat of a heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-holford-green/if-reading-is-like-breathing-then-writing-is-like-the-beat-of-a-heart/) [Laura Holford-Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-holford-green/) > [“Reading, for me, was like breathing. It was probably akin to masturbation for my brain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/reading-for-me-was-like-breathing-it-was-probably-akin-to/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [“The BiPAP essentially took control of my breathing away from me, which was intensely annoying, but the great thing about it was that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/the-bipap-essentially-took-control-of-my-breathing-away-from-me-which/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Really unreal world, will you perhaps do the breathing for me while I am away?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/really-unreal-world-will-you-perhaps-do-the-breathing-for-me-while-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Responsibility is something you take as a matter of fact, like breathing air; living without it is impossible, but do not think about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-gelt-dekker/responsibility-is-something-you-take-as-a-matter-of-fact-like/) [Jacob Gelt Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-gelt-dekker/) > [Traveling isn't something you're good at. It's something you do. Like breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/traveling-isn-t-something-you-re-good-at-it-s-something-you-do-like/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [Writing is like breathing, it's possible to learn to do it well, but the point is to do it no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/writing-is-like-breathing-it-s-possible-to-learn-to-do-it-well-but/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [The point is to get a good rhythm, to make it mindless, almost as a daydream. To walk like breathing. To make it what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-point-is-to-get-a-good-rhythm-to-make-it-mindless-almost-as-a/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [A lot of people can't stand touring but to me it's like breathing. I do it because I'm driven to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/a-lot-of-people-can-t-stand-touring-but-to-me-it-s-like-breathing-i/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“Anyone else feel like that? Like your life's a big act. Like you're trying to be a man when you're just a scared kid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-flinn/anyone-else-feel-like-that-like-your-life-s-a-big-act-like-you-re/) [Alex Flinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-flinn/) > [Eating and sleeping are not like loving and breathing. Washing is not like eating and sleeping. Believing is like breathing and loving. Religion can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/eating-and-sleeping-are-not-like-loving-and-breathing-washing-is-not/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) ## More by Robert Jordan > [“It was an odd thing Tam had taught him. Concentrate on a single flame and feed all your passions into it—fear, hate, anger—until your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/it-was-an-odd-thing-tam-had-taught-him-concentrate-on-a-single-flame/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [“Relax, lad. Take life as it comes. Run when you have to, fight when you must, rest when you can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/relax-lad-take-life-as-it-comes-run-when-you-have-to-fight-when-you/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [“As she spoke, the dice started tumbling inside his head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/as-she-spoke-the-dice-started-tumbling-inside-his-head/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [There was a wild light in his eyes. "Bring your lightnings, Aes Sedai. I will dance with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/there-was-a-wild-light-in-his-eyes-bring-your-lightnings-aes-sedai-i/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [My mother always told me the best way to learn to deal with a man was to learn to ride a mule. She said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/my-mother-always-told-me-the-best-way-to-learn-to-deal-with-a-man-was/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [“The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills, Perrin. We’ve become what we needed to become.” Perrin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/the-wheel-weaves-as-the-wheel-wills-perrin-we-ve-become-what-we/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [“All of you, fare well, and may you shelter in the palm of the Creator’s hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/all-of-you-fare-well-and-may-you-shelter-in-the-palm-of-the-creator-s/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [If it's not forbidden, then it's allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/if-it-s-not-forbidden-then-it-s-allowed/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [“Stay and get married, or travel the Ways." Loial grimaced ruefully. "Life is very unsettling with ta'veren for friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/stay-and-get-married-or-travel-the-ways-loial-grimaced-ruefully-life/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [“Who would sup with the mighty must climb the path of daggers. -Anonymous notation found inked in the margin of a manuscript history (believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/who-would-sup-with-the-mighty-must-climb-the-path-of-daggers/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [Men always seem to refuse to admit they are sick until they're sick enough to make twice as much work for women. Then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/men-always-seem-to-refuse-to-admit-they-are-sick-until-they-re-sick/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [Beauty holds more worth than gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/beauty-holds-more-worth-than-gold/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [When the honey's out of the comb, there's no putting it back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/when-the-honey-s-out-of-the-comb-there-s-no-putting-it-back/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [Death comes to us all; we can only choose how to face it when it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/death-comes-to-us-all-we-can-only-choose-how-to-face-it-when-it-comes/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [“Burn me," Mat said, throwing on the shirt he dug out of the bundle. "I'll give you a hundred Tar Valon marks if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/burn-me-mat-said-throwing-on-the-shirt-he-dug-out-of-the-bundle-i-ll/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) [Explore all 553 Robert Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) ## More Breathing quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) [Marcel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-williams/) > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. 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