--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So -- I confess I have been a rake at…" description: "\"“So -- I confess I have been a rake at reading. I have read those things which I ought not to have read, and I have not read those things which I ought..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/robertson-davies-834_books_so-i-confess-i-have-been-a-rake-at-readi_2068708.jpg" --- # So -- I confess I have been a rake at reading. I have read… ![“So -- I confess I have been a rake at reading. I have read those things which I ought not to have read, and I have not read those things which I ought to have read, and there is no health in me -- if by health you mean an inclusive and coherent knowledge of any body of great literature. I can only…” quote by Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/robertson-davies-834_books_so-i-confess-i-have-been-a-rake-at-readi_2068708.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/robertson-davies-834_books_so-i-confess-i-have-been-a-rake-at-readi_2068708.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/robertson-davies-834_books_so-i-confess-i-have-been-a-rake-at-readi_2068708.jpg) > ““So -- I confess I have been a rake at reading. I have read those things which I ought not to have read, and I have not read those things which I ought to have read, and there is no health in me -- if by health you mean an inclusive and coherent knowledge of any body of great literature. I can only protest, like all rakes in their shameful senescence, that I have had a good time.”” [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker admits to reading for pleasure rather than for comprehensive literary knowledge, acknowledging a lack of disciplined study while enjoying the experience. **In simple terms:** Enjoyed reading but missed systematic learning. Key Takeaway Balance pleasure reading with purposeful study. Themes reading literature self-awareness Mood reflective honest Type personal literary When to use this quote - college coursework - self-education - book clubs - personal development - literary criticism Key Concepts rake metaphor knowledge gaps personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate enjoyable reading with essential learning? - What steps will you take to broaden your literary knowledge? A Different Perspective Pleasure reading may limit depth of understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Confess Rake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confess-rake-3984063/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Ought Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-read-1374634/) [Rake Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rake-reading-3984064/) [Rakes Shameful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rakes-shameful-3984065/) [Read Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-things/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) ## Related quotes > [Some books are serials, not to be mistaken for anything else. 'The Two Towers,' for example, ought never to be read in isolation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/some-books-are-serials-not-to-be-mistaken-for-anything-else-the-two/) [Edward M. 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