--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: (Mind you, according to Walter Benjamin…" description: "\"“(Mind you, according to Walter Benjamin, the twentieth century’s great philosopher of collecting, browsing and what we’d now call vintage shopping, ‘t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/simon-reynolds-37167_book_mind-you-according-to-walter-benjamin-th_867025.jpg" --- # (Mind you, according to Walter Benjamin, the twentieth… ![“(Mind you, according to Walter Benjamin, the twentieth century’s great philosopher of collecting, browsing and what we’d now call vintage shopping, ‘the non-reading of books’ is a defining characteristic of serious bibliomaniacs; he cites Anatole France, who blithely admitted that he’d barely read…” quote by Simon Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/simon-reynolds-37167_book_mind-you-according-to-walter-benjamin-th_867025.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/simon-reynolds-37167_book_mind-you-according-to-walter-benjamin-th_867025.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/simon-reynolds-37167_book_mind-you-according-to-walter-benjamin-th_867025.jpg) > ““(Mind you, according to Walter Benjamin, the twentieth century’s great philosopher of collecting, browsing and what we’d now call vintage shopping, ‘the non-reading of books’ is a defining characteristic of serious bibliomaniacs; he cites Anatole France, who blithely admitted that he’d barely read one-tenth of the books in his library.)”” [Simon Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-reynolds/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Serious book lovers often skim, missing deep reading, reflecting a cultural shift toward superficial consumption. **In simple terms:** Bibliophiles may skim instead of deep reading. Key Takeaway Prioritize deep engagement with texts. Themes reading habits culture technology Mood critical analytical Type cultural observational When to use this quote - library work - academic study - personal reading practice - digital media critique Key Concepts bibliophilia information overload Questions to Reflect On - Why do we favor breadth over depth? - How can we balance collection and deep reading? A Different Perspective The quote assumes all collectors are superficial, ignoring nuanced scholarship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anatole-france/) [Bibliomaniacs Cites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bibliomaniacs-cites-913226/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Books Defining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books-defining-913227/) [Characteristic Bibliomaniacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characteristic-bibliomaniacs-913225/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-books/) [Vintage shopping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vintage-shopping/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walter-benjamin/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Anatole France frankly advised, "When a thing has been said and said well, have no scruple. Take it and copy it." Yes, indeed, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-saul-morson/anatole-france-frankly-advised-when-a-thing-has-been-said-and-said/) [Gary Saul Morson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-saul-morson/) > [“M. Proust was more severe than M. de Caillavet on Anatole France: "He was selfish and supercilious. He had read so much that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-leste-albaret/m-proust-was-more-severe-than-m-de-caillavet-on-anatole-france-he-was/) [Céleste Albaret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-leste-albaret/) > [“All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-carr/all-changes-even-the-most-longed-for-have-their-melancholy-for-what-2/) [Robyn Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-carr/) > [“And the non-reading of books, you will object, should be characteristic of all collectors? This is news to me, you may say. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/and-the-non-reading-of-books-you-will-object-should-be-characteristic/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [“Sexual reproduction is a lottery. 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And I love the feeling of finding the most amazing piece for less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-roberts/i-love-vintage-shopping-i-think-it-s-really-fun-and-i-love-the/) [Emma Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-roberts/) > [I love vintage shopping, but my secret spot for great tees and casual stuff is Trico Field. 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