--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is the most intimate relationship…" description: "\"This is the most intimate relationship between literature and its readers: they treat the text as a part of themselves, as a possession.\" — Ryszard Kap..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b56/ryszard-kapuscinski-4233_books_this-is-the-most-intimate-relationship-b_1856030.jpg" --- # This is the most intimate relationship between literature… ![“This is the most intimate relationship between literature and its readers: they treat the text as a part of themselves, as a possession.” quote by Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b56/ryszard-kapuscinski-4233_books_this-is-the-most-intimate-relationship-b_1856030.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b56/ryszard-kapuscinski-4233_books_this-is-the-most-intimate-relationship-b_1856030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b56/ryszard-kapuscinski-4233_books_this-is-the-most-intimate-relationship-b_1856030.jpg) > “This is the most intimate relationship between literature and its readers: they treat the text as a part of themselves, as a possession.” [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Readers internalize texts, making literature a personal possession that shapes identity and emotional life. **In simple terms:** Reading makes stories part of you. Key Takeaway Treat reading as personal dialogue. Themes identity literature connection Mood reflective intimate Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - book clubs - personal journaling - education - therapy Key Concepts psychology of reading personal narrative empathy Questions to Reflect On - How does a favorite book reflect your self? - When does literature become too personal? A Different Perspective Risk of over-identifying, losing critical distance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Intimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimate/) [Intimate Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimate-relationship/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Literature Readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature-readers-2468191/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Readers Treat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/readers-treat-753838/) [Relationship Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship-literature-1716357/) [Text Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/text-possession-2468190/) [Treats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treats/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [My goal is to teach readers how to treat and respect themselves and each other in an entertaining way. I do that in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisi-harrison/my-goal-is-to-teach-readers-how-to-treat-and-respect-themselves-and/) [Lisi Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisi-harrison/) > [To some degree, I consider myself a writer, and so I have a strong relationship with literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ranaldo/to-some-degree-i-consider-myself-a-writer-and-so-i-have-a-strong/) [Lee Ranaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ranaldo/) > [“I see the process of reaching out, sharing yourself, communicating, establishing contact between two people as similar to, if not the same as, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-szczurek/i-see-the-process-of-reaching-out-sharing-yourself-communicating/) [Karina Szczurek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-szczurek/) > [The body and mind are one. When the intimate relationship between mind and body is disrupted, aging and entropy accelerate. Restoring mind/body integration brings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-body-and-mind-are-one-when-the-intimate-relationship-between-mind/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [What is Christianity all about? It is about an intimate relationship with God. And I HATE a christendom, a churchianity that God is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/what-is-christianity-all-about-it-is-about-an-intimate-relationship/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [When I was growing up, albums were my closest friends, as sad as that may sound - Joy Division's 'Closer,' or Echo and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/when-i-was-growing-up-albums-were-my-closest-friends-as-sad-as-that/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [People are talking about sex. They're talking about sex with their husbands. They're talking about sex with their girlfriends. They're talking about sex with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james-2/people-are-talking-about-sex-they-re-talking-about-sex-with-their/) [E. L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james-2/) > [In order to be able to make and keep commitments... to enduring, intimate relationships... you need to be a certain kind of person. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-silk/in-order-to-be-able-to-make-and-keep-commitments-to-enduring-intimate/) [Danny Silk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-silk/) > [Skillfully engaging in intimate relationships can be one of the most potent spiritual practices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-friend/skillfully-engaging-in-intimate-relationships-can-be-one-of-the-most/) [John Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-friend/) > [You cannot have a private relationship in a public arena. You must look to an inner circle of people who really know you. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/you-cannot-have-a-private-relationship-in-a-public-arena-you-must/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [What we need to understand is that when traditions become laws, rules, obligations and expectations others put on us that we don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/what-we-need-to-understand-is-that-when-traditions-become-laws-rules/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [I've never had any intimate relationships with a dolphin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/i-ve-never-had-any-intimate-relationships-with-a-dolphin/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [It's not how a photographer looks at the world that is important. It's their intimate relationship with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-d-agata/it-s-not-how-a-photographer-looks-at-the-world-that-is-important-it-s/) [Antoine D'Agata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-d-agata/) > [I don't believe love is real love if it remains cloistered within the confines of an intimate relationship; it should transcend the private sphere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-e-morgan/i-don-t-believe-love-is-real-love-if-it-remains-cloistered-within-the/) [C.E. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-e-morgan/) > [When adults come together to form an intimate relationship, each person releases into it unresolved issues from their trans-generational pool of unconscious fantasies. Partners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-raphael-leff/when-adults-come-together-to-form-an-intimate-relationship-each/) [Joan Raphael-Leff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-raphael-leff/) ## More by Ryszard Kapuscinski > [We have such a mixture now, such a fusion of different genres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/we-have-such-a-mixture-now-such-a-fusion-of-different-genres/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [The official independence celebration was going to be held over four or five days, and a group of journalists from all over the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/the-official-independence-celebration-was-going-to-be-held-over-four/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [“Here is an oral tradition, legends passed from mouth to mouth, a communal myth created invariably at the base of the mango tree in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/here-is-an-oral-tradition-legends-passed-from-mouth-to-mouth-a/) [Ryszard Kapuściński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [He killed his enemies because he was afraid they would kill him. Amin ordered entire tribes to be put to death, because he feared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/he-killed-his-enemies-because-he-was-afraid-they-would-kill-him-amin/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [Money changes all the iron rules into rubber bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/money-changes-all-the-iron-rules-into-rubber-bands/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [More than anything, one is struck by the light. Light everywhere. Brightness everywhere. Everywhere, the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/more-than-anything-one-is-struck-by-the-light-light-everywhere/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [The Cold War in Africa is one of the darkest, most disgraceful pages in contemporary history, and everybody ought to be ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/the-cold-war-in-africa-is-one-of-the-darkest-most-disgraceful-pages/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [Our salvation is in striving to achieve what we know we'll never achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/our-salvation-is-in-striving-to-achieve-what-we-know-we-ll-never/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [I remember in 1978 meeting two Ugandan captains in the hotel talking Russian. They had been educated in Moscow and since they came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/i-remember-in-1978-meeting-two-ugandan-captains-in-the-hotel-talking/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [How do cultures differ from one another? Above all, in their customs. Tell me how you dress, how you act, what are your habits,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/how-do-cultures-differ-from-one-another-above-all-in-their-customs/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [“on war and conquest: in the realm of human affairs one also needs a pretext. it is important to give it the rank of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/on-war-and-conquest-in-the-realm-of-human-affairs-one-also-needs-a/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [In the tropics the white feels weakened, or downright weak, whence comes the heightened tendency to outbursts of aggression. People who are polite, modest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/in-the-tropics-the-white-feels-weakened-or-downright-weak-whence/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [Pack the one bag. Unpack it, pack it, unpack it, pack it: passeport, ticket, book, taxi, airport, check-in, beer, announcement, stairs, airplane, fasten seat-belt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/pack-the-one-bag-unpack-it-pack-it-unpack-it-pack-it-passeport-ticket/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [Do not be misled by the fact that you are at liberty and relatively free; that for the moment you are not under lock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/do-not-be-misled-by-the-fact-that-you-are-at-liberty-and-relatively/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [I'll tell you what colonial experience is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/i-ll-tell-you-what-colonial-experience-is/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) [Explore all 88 Ryszard Kapuscinski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) ## More Books 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/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [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/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [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/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [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/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is the most intimate relationship between literature and its readers: they treat the text as a part of themselves, as a possession.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryszard Kapuscinski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/this-is-the-most-intimate-relationship-between-literature-and-its/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/this-is-the-most-intimate-relationship-between-literature-and-its/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b56/ryszard-kapuscinski-4233_books_this-is-the-most-intimate-relationship-b_1856030.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b56/ryszard-kapuscinski-4233_books_this-is-the-most-intimate-relationship-b_1856030.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b56/ryszard-kapuscinski-4233_books_this-is-the-most-intimate-relationship-b_1856030.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is the most intimate relationship between literature and its readers: they treat the text as a part of…” — Ryszard Kapuscinski", "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": "Ryszard Kapuscinski", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "This is the most intimate relationship...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/this-is-the-most-intimate-relationship-between-literature-and-its/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/this-is-the-most-intimate-relationship-between-literature-and-its/#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 } } ] } ```