--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Basically, I learned to read by reading…" description: "\"Basically, I learned to read by reading 'Peanuts,' just wanting to know what they were saying.\" — Stephan Pastis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/stephan-pastis-9455_peanuts_basically-i-learned-to-read-by-reading-p_3204288.png" --- # Basically, I learned to read by reading 'Peanuts,' just… ![“Basically, I learned to read by reading 'Peanuts,' just wanting to know what they were saying.” quote by Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/stephan-pastis-9455_peanuts_basically-i-learned-to-read-by-reading-p_3204288.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/stephan-pastis-9455_peanuts_basically-i-learned-to-read-by-reading-p_3204288.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/stephan-pastis-9455_peanuts_basically-i-learned-to-read-by-reading-p_3204288.png) > “Basically, I learned to read by reading 'Peanuts,' just wanting to know what they were saying.” [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning to read can start with engaging, familiar material that sparks curiosity about language. **In simple terms:** Reading can start with fun comics. Key Takeaway Use enjoyable media to build reading skills. Themes learning curiosity media literacy Mood playful encouraging Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - teaching children - self‑directed learning - language development Key Concepts comics motivation language acquisition Questions to Reflect On - What media could you use to spark curiosity? - How does enjoyment affect learning? A Different Perspective Not all readers are motivated by comics; some need structured instruction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) ## Related quotes > [Basically, I learned to read by reading 'Peanuts,' just wanting to know what they were saying. I was 4 or 5 or whatever. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/basically-i-learned-to-read-by-reading-peanuts-just-wanting-to-know/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [How I learned to read was by reading the captions on TV, and I grew up from a really young age watching tons of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/how-i-learned-to-read-was-by-reading-the-captions-on-tv-and-i-grew-up/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [I learned to read from Mrs. Augusta Baker, the children's librarian. ... If that was the only good deed that lady ever did in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/i-learned-to-read-from-mrs-augusta-baker-the-children-s-librarian-if/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [If you're from a certain generation, you basically learn to read with 'Peanuts.' It's sort of the template for the modern strip. Its influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/if-you-re-from-a-certain-generation-you-basically-learn-to-read-with/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [Repeats are the worst, and 'Peanuts' was the one that started that. They don't rerun the news, do they? They don't repeat any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/repeats-are-the-worst-and-peanuts-was-the-one-that-started-that-they/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [I've learned how to sleep on airplanes. When I'm taking a trans-Atlantic flight or going to a different continent, I will always read because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-ve-learned-how-to-sleep-on-airplanes-when-i-m-taking-a-trans/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [“We have never even begun to understand a people until we have found something that we do not understand. So long as we find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/we-have-never-even-begun-to-understand-a-people-until-we-have-found/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [I try not to read about myself. Why would reading about yourself be interesting? You're only going to be told you're doing a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-hoult/i-try-not-to-read-about-myself-why-would-reading-about-yourself-be/) [Nicholas Hoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-hoult/) > [We read to understand, or to begin to understand. We cannot do but to read. Reading almost as much as breathing, is our essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-manguel/we-read-to-understand-or-to-begin-to-understand-we-cannot-do-but-to/) [Alberto Manguel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-manguel/) > [Of course there is no denying the possible pleasure of holing up with a fat, slow-moving, mediocre novel; still, we all know that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/of-course-there-is-no-denying-the-possible-pleasure-of-holing-up-with/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [“Find a quiet place, and just read. If you’re reading an ebook, clear away everything else but your ebook reader. Then you settle into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-babauta/find-a-quiet-place-and-just-read-if-you-re-reading-an-ebook-clear/) [Leo Babauta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-babauta/) > [Too many of our children cannot read. Reading is the building block, and it must be the foundation for education reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/too-many-of-our-children-cannot-read-reading-is-the-building-block/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Comics have always helped people to read. A lot of people learned to read by reading the comics. And it's our livelihood, after all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-walker/comics-have-always-helped-people-to-read-a-lot-of-people-learned-to/) [Mort Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-walker/) > [Take a book, the poorest one written, but read it with the passion that it is the only book you will read. Ultimately, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/take-a-book-the-poorest-one-written-but-read-it-with-the-passion-that/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [“Malaysians don't like to read. If you're reading this, you must not be liking it, or not Malaysian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-yap/malaysians-don-t-like-to-read-if-you-re-reading-this-you-must-not-be/) [Brian Yap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-yap/) ## More by Stephan Pastis > [For me, going to Minneapolis is like going to Mecca.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/for-me-going-to-minneapolis-is-like-going-to-mecca/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [I have days where the only words I say are to the person making my sandwich at the grocery store.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/i-have-days-where-the-only-words-i-say-are-to-the-person-making-my/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [“Humility is what you strive for when you've failed at everything else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/humility-is-what-you-strive-for-when-you-ve-failed-at-everything-else/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [A comic strip has a rhythm and a pattern, and you got to get in and out quick. So you set up a joke,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/a-comic-strip-has-a-rhythm-and-a-pattern-and-you-got-to-get-in-and/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [I like characters who have blind spots and are full of themselves, but there also needs to be vulnerability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/i-like-characters-who-have-blind-spots-and-are-full-of-themselves-but/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [If you put me in 'South Park,' that audience is going to fall asleep in five minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/if-you-put-me-in-south-park-that-audience-is-going-to-fall-asleep-in/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [When you can't draw chameleons and you can't draw blenders, it's a bad idea to write strips where chameleons become blenders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/when-you-can-t-draw-chameleons-and-you-can-t-draw-blenders-it-s-a-bad/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [Thomas, my 15-year-old, is effectively my editor, I've always trusted his voice, more than anybody, on the strip for years. He has one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/thomas-my-15-year-old-is-effectively-my-editor-i-ve-always-trusted/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [I think it might surprise the average person how angry people can get over the comics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/i-think-it-might-surprise-the-average-person-how-angry-people-can-get/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [You can't just count on becoming a syndicated cartoonist. I actually tried to calculate the odds once, and the best I could come up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/you-can-t-just-count-on-becoming-a-syndicated-cartoonist-i-actually/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [A stand-up comedian faces the audiences and gets their immediate feedback. I hide behind the comic strip, and unless people write to me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/a-stand-up-comedian-faces-the-audiences-and-gets-their-immediate/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [“I know that if I am to move forward like the professional that I am, I must first see the past with mature eyes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/i-know-that-if-i-am-to-move-forward-like-the-professional-that-i-am-i/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [“Perhaps it is a secret yearning of all Hallmark employees to use the phrase 'you big fat pain in the butt' in an anniversary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/perhaps-it-is-a-secret-yearning-of-all-hallmark-employees-to-use-the/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [It seems so absurd to get really mad with a cartoonist over a comic strip. It's sort of like getting in a fight with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/it-seems-so-absurd-to-get-really-mad-with-a-cartoonist-over-a-comic/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [I know I can always draw, but I actually love the writing the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/i-know-i-can-always-draw-but-i-actually-love-the-writing-the-most/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) [Explore all 72 Stephan Pastis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) ## More Peanuts quotes > [I don't think I've ever bench-pressed anything in my life. Until about two years ago I swam a mile almost every day. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-bench-pressed-anything-in-my-life-until-about/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [I just wanna eat some peanuts...See? Peanuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/i-just-wanna-eat-some-peanuts-see-peanuts/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [While traveling, I love granola bars, trail mix nuts, dry cereal and fruit for on-the-go snacks. I also try and start the day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-rampone/while-traveling-i-love-granola-bars-trail-mix-nuts-dry-cereal-and/) [Christie Rampone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-rampone/) > [Peanut butter - the pâté of childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-fabricant/peanut-butter-the-p-t-of-childhood/) Florence Fabricant > [I found this book that had every 'Peanuts' strip from 1952 to 1955 and read every one. Amazing. So now I can say I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-schnapp/i-found-this-book-that-had-every-peanuts-strip-from-1952-to-1955-and/) [Noah Schnapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-schnapp/) > [While it's true that you may lose your religion during the course of a lifetime, you never lose your salvation. Once you let Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathleen-falsani/while-it-s-true-that-you-may-lose-your-religion-during-the-course-of/) [Cathleen Falsani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathleen-falsani/) > [You know the best thing about aeroplanes? Apart from the peanuts in little silver bags, I mean. It's looking out of the windows at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-know-the-best-thing-about-aeroplanes-apart-from-the-peanuts-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I had peanut butter once. It was awful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grumpy-cat/i-had-peanut-butter-once-it-was-awful/) [Grumpy Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grumpy-cat/) > [Everyone knows I drink a lot of Diet Coke, so...I drink chocolate milk after races as my recovery drink, and you won't ever find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-armstrong/everyone-knows-i-drink-a-lot-of-diet-coke-so-i-drink-chocolate-milk/) [Kristin Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-armstrong/) > [I'll never forget my first words in the theatre. "Peanuts. Popcorn."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/i-ll-never-forget-my-first-words-in-the-theatre-peanuts-popcorn/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [I think that there is not really a difference between a 'Peanuts' and a beautiful Renaissance painting. There is something very romantic in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandro-michele/i-think-that-there-is-not-really-a-difference-between-a-peanuts-and-a/) [Alessandro Michele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandro-michele/) > [“Stop selling your life for peanuts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/stop-selling-your-life-for-peanuts/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Love and happiness remind me of sticky peanut butter. When you spread them around, you can't help but end up getting some on yourself!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-and-happiness-remind-me-of-sticky-peanut-butter-when-you-spread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do you want to make a tamale with peanut butter and jelly? Go Ahead! Somebody will eat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-flay/do-you-want-to-make-a-tamale-with-peanut-butter-and-jelly-go-ahead/) [Bobby Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-flay/) > [Snacking is important. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a great example of a perfect snack. They can go a long way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jozy-altidore/snacking-is-important-peanut-butter-and-jelly-sandwiches-are-a-great/) [Jozy Altidore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jozy-altidore/) Browse all 279 Peanuts quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Basically, I learned to read by reading 'Peanuts,' just wanting to know what they were saying.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephan Pastis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/basically-i-learned-to-read-by-reading-peanuts-just-wanting-to-know-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Peanuts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/basically-i-learned-to-read-by-reading-peanuts-just-wanting-to-know-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/stephan-pastis-9455_peanuts_basically-i-learned-to-read-by-reading-p_3204288.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/stephan-pastis-9455_peanuts_basically-i-learned-to-read-by-reading-p_3204288.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/stephan-pastis-9455_peanuts_basically-i-learned-to-read-by-reading-p_3204288.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Basically, I learned to read by reading 'Peanuts,' just wanting to know what they were saying.” — Stephan Pastis", "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": "Stephan Pastis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Basically, I learned to read by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/basically-i-learned-to-read-by-reading-peanuts-just-wanting-to-know-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/basically-i-learned-to-read-by-reading-peanuts-just-wanting-to-know-2/#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 } } ] } ```