--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You wouldn't read 'Anna Karenina' and try…" description: "\"You wouldn't read 'Anna Karenina' and try to work on the computer at the same time, would you?\" — Tim Pigott-Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fe/tim-pigott-smith-10102_computer_you-wouldn-t-read-anna-karenina-and-try_2193562.jpg" --- # You wouldn't read 'Anna Karenina' and try to work on the… ![“You wouldn't read 'Anna Karenina' and try to work on the computer at the same time, would you?” quote by Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fe/tim-pigott-smith-10102_computer_you-wouldn-t-read-anna-karenina-and-try_2193562.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fe/tim-pigott-smith-10102_computer_you-wouldn-t-read-anna-karenina-and-try_2193562.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fe/tim-pigott-smith-10102_computer_you-wouldn-t-read-anna-karenina-and-try_2193562.jpg) > “You wouldn't read 'Anna Karenina' and try to work on the computer at the same time, would you?” [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting deep reading while multitasking on a computer reduces comprehension and enjoyment. **In simple terms:** Reading and computer work clash. Key Takeaway Focus on one task at a time. Themes focus multitasking reading Mood frustrated reflective Type advice observational When to use this quote - studying - research - leisure reading - online work - academic writing Key Concepts cognitive load attention literature appreciation Questions to Reflect On - Can you schedule dedicated reading time? - How does multitasking affect learning? A Different Perspective Multitasking may be necessary in some fast‑paced jobs, limiting deep engagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anna Karenina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anna-karenina/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Every story has already been told. Once you've read Anna Karenina, Bleak House, The Sound and the Fury, To Kill a Mockingbird and A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/every-story-has-already-been-told-once-you-ve-read-anna-karenina/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“Children write essays in school about the unhappy, tragic, doomed life of Anna Karenina . But was Anna really unhappy? She chose passion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/children-write-essays-in-school-about-the-unhappy-tragic-doomed-life/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [I've got two kids and they monopolize my computer time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-daniels/i-ve-got-two-kids-and-they-monopolize-my-computer-time/) [Christopher Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-daniels/) > [I don't know how to work the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-hilton/i-don-t-know-how-to-work-the-computer/) [Kathy Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-hilton/) > [“Read them, Anna. Really read them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ockler/read-them-anna-really-read-them/) [Sarah Ockler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ockler/) > [It doesn't make me very happy to be on my computer all the time. I've never been drawn to that world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-cole/it-doesn-t-make-me-very-happy-to-be-on-my-computer-all-the-time-i-ve/) [Lily Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-cole/) > [It was a black and white only computer at the time, but it kept me fascinated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buffy-sainte-marie/it-was-a-black-and-white-only-computer-at-the-time-but-it-kept-me/) [Buffy Sainte-Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buffy-sainte-marie/) > [I watch virtually no TV. All my screen time is computer time for me. When I'm not doing that I'm reading or talking to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/i-watch-virtually-no-tv-all-my-screen-time-is-computer-time-for-me/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [If I have an idea in my head, within no time it's into the computer, it may take more time to make it sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-garrix/if-i-have-an-idea-in-my-head-within-no-time-it-s-into-the-computer-it/) [Martin Garrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-garrix/) > [I learned to work on a computer years before I was placed under house arrest. Fortunately I had two laptops when I was under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/i-learned-to-work-on-a-computer-years-before-i-was-placed-under-house/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [I left school, and I went to work in a computer company. I was in my late teens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wilson/i-left-school-and-i-went-to-work-in-a-computer-company-i-was-in-my/) [Steven Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wilson/) > [I never work on a computer. I can't write on a computer. It's just not possible for me to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-never-work-on-a-computer-i-can-t-write-on-a-computer-it-s-just-not/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [Work on a computer that is disconnected from the internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/work-on-a-computer-that-is-disconnected-from-the-internet/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [I can't work a computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-redknapp/i-can-t-work-a-computer/) [Harry Redknapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-redknapp/) > [“my folks wouldn't read a book if you put a gun to their dicks. but they read people all day long and always get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/my-folks-wouldn-t-read-a-book-if-you-put-a-gun-to-their-dicks-but/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) ## More by Tim Pigott-Smith > [As a child, we lived in flats, and I was never allowed pets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/as-a-child-we-lived-in-flats-and-i-was-never-allowed-pets/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [I've played quite a lot of real people, and it carries a special responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/i-ve-played-quite-a-lot-of-real-people-and-it-carries-a-special/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [Villains are always the best roles, but that meant that for months afterwards, all I got offered were absolute cads and bounders and really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/villains-are-always-the-best-roles-but-that-meant-that-for-months/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [Performing King Charles in Mike Bartlett's astonishing play in London and New York has been one of the high points of my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/performing-king-charles-in-mike-bartlett-s-astonishing-play-in-london/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [My parents were fantastic. I was an only child, so I had a lot of love and too much attention. I don't think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/my-parents-were-fantastic-i-was-an-only-child-so-i-had-a-lot-of-love/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [When I have a good performance, I'm wrecked at the end of it. I feel completely empty, and tears are pouring down my face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/when-i-have-a-good-performance-i-m-wrecked-at-the-end-of-it-i-feel/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [I have only met Prince Charles once, when he was very charming and easy to chat to. I have always had a soft spot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/i-have-only-met-prince-charles-once-when-he-was-very-charming-and/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [I'm quite sharp but not particularly academic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/i-m-quite-sharp-but-not-particularly-academic/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [For sheer excitement, a weekend in New York is unbeatable. Arrive on Friday morning, leave on Monday night, and don't worry about jet lag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/for-sheer-excitement-a-weekend-in-new-york-is-unbeatable-arrive-on/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [What makes Biarritz special, as far as I'm concerned, are the fantastic coastline, the beaches - such as the Cotes des Basques - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/what-makes-biarritz-special-as-far-as-i-m-concerned-are-the-fantastic/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [I can't understand why TV tries to appeal to youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/i-can-t-understand-why-tv-tries-to-appeal-to-youth/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [Of course there is a danger of typecasting, and since 'Jewel in the Crown' appeared, I have had countless offers to play sadistic policemen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/of-course-there-is-a-danger-of-typecasting-and-since-jewel-in-the/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [Slower television actually credits the audience with a higher level of intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/slower-television-actually-credits-the-audience-with-a-higher-level/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [People wrote about me and started calling me a star, and I just hated it. There are aspects of it that are great -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/people-wrote-about-me-and-started-calling-me-a-star-and-i-just-hated/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [Sometimes I Rollerblade to work, but it's most lovely in the park, and it's really quite safe there. I do it quite carefully, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/sometimes-i-rollerblade-to-work-but-it-s-most-lovely-in-the-park-and/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) [Explore all 68 Tim Pigott-Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) ## More Computer quotes > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [The display is the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hsun-huang/the-display-is-the-computer/) Jen-Hsun Huang > [It's interesting that the greatest minds of computer science, the founding fathers, like Alan Turing and Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, they all looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/it-s-interesting-that-the-greatest-minds-of-computer-science-the/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [One of our big goals in search is to make search that really understands exactly what you want, understands everything in the world. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-page/one-of-our-big-goals-in-search-is-to-make-search-that-really/) [Larry Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-page/) > [We are beginning to see intimations of this in the implantation of computer devices into the human body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kurzweil/we-are-beginning-to-see-intimations-of-this-in-the-implantation-of/) [Ray Kurzweil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kurzweil/) > [I'm from the South, so I'm very old-fashioned and I'm not very computer savvy at all, but I'm getting it. I understand that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-harmon/i-m-from-the-south-so-i-m-very-old-fashioned-and-i-m-not-very/) [Angie Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-harmon/) > [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [A little bit more than 50% of what you see on screen is handcrafted and the other 50% was about emulating these textures on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-abreu/a-little-bit-more-than-50-of-what-you-see-on-screen-is-handcrafted/) [Alex Abreu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-abreu/) > [Well I'm trying to think what I put in... I think I put in 'why?' to see if I'd confuse the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/well-i-m-trying-to-think-what-i-put-in-i-think-i-put-in-why-to-see-if/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [Our brains are great at knowing what to forget. We actually have to teach computers to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/our-brains-are-great-at-knowing-what-to-forget-we-actually-have-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [Nor would anybody suspect. If was one thing all people took for granted, was conviction that if you feed honest figures into a computer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/nor-would-anybody-suspect-if-was-one-thing-all-people-took-for/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [In nine months, a group of children left alone with a computer in any language will reach the same standard as an office secretary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugata-mitra/in-nine-months-a-group-of-children-left-alone-with-a-computer-in-any/) [Sugata Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugata-mitra/) > [Why do you do what you do? Why do you dress the way you dress?Why do you do what you do with your time?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-conway/why-do-you-do-what-you-do-why-do-you-dress-the-way-you-dress-why-do/) [Tim Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-conway/) > [Yeah, I'm a geek. I read sci-fi and I watch sci-fi films. I love my computer and I love to fix it. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-benson/yeah-i-m-a-geek-i-read-sci-fi-and-i-watch-sci-fi-films-i-love-my/) [Amber Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-benson/) [Browse all 3,924 Computer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You wouldn't read 'Anna Karenina' and try to work on the computer at the same time, would you?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tim Pigott-Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/you-wouldn-t-read-anna-karenina-and-try-to-work-on-the-computer-at/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Computer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/you-wouldn-t-read-anna-karenina-and-try-to-work-on-the-computer-at/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fe/tim-pigott-smith-10102_computer_you-wouldn-t-read-anna-karenina-and-try_2193562.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fe/tim-pigott-smith-10102_computer_you-wouldn-t-read-anna-karenina-and-try_2193562.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fe/tim-pigott-smith-10102_computer_you-wouldn-t-read-anna-karenina-and-try_2193562.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You wouldn't read 'Anna Karenina' and try to work on the computer at the same time, would you?” — Tim Pigott-Smith", "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": "Tim Pigott-Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You wouldn't read 'Anna Karenina' and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/you-wouldn-t-read-anna-karenina-and-try-to-work-on-the-computer-at/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/you-wouldn-t-read-anna-karenina-and-try-to-work-on-the-computer-at/#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 } } ] } ```