Enjoyment Quote by Susanna Kearsley
“There's a line in The Barretts of Wimpole Street - you know, the play - where Elizabeth Barrett is trying to work out the meaning of one of Robert Browning's poems, and she shows it to him, and he reads it and he tells her when he wrote that poem, only God and Robert Browning knew what it meant, and now only God knows. And that's how I feel about studying English. Who knows what the writer was thinking, and why should it matter? I'd rather just read for enjoyment.”
About This Quote
Studying literature may be futile if the author’s intent is unknowable; reading for pleasure is preferable.
In simple terms: Enjoy literature without seeking hidden meaning.
Key Takeaway
Read for joy.
Themes
literature
interpretation
meaning
joy
Mood
contemplative
lighthearted
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education
- personal leisure
- academic study
Key Concepts
hermeneutics
subjectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you seek authorial intent or personal enjoyment?
- How does uncertainty affect your reading?
