Authority Quote by Virginia Woolf
“A learned man is a sedentary, concentrated solitary enthusiast, who searches through books to discover some particular grain of truth upon which he has set his heart. If the passion for reading conquers him, his gains dwindle and vanish between his fingers. A reader, on the other hand, must check the desire for learning at the outset; if knowledge sticks to him well and good, but to go in pursuit of it, to read on a system, to become a specialist or an authority, is very apt to kill what suits us to consider the more humane passion for pure and disinterested reading.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: A Room of One's Own, 1929
A scholar may become trapped by obsessive study, losing the joy of reading for its own sake.
In simple terms: Over‑studying can kill the love of reading.
Key Takeaway
Balance depth with curiosity.
Themes
learning
reading
passion
balance
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- academic research
- personal study
- literary criticism
- self‑education
Key Concepts
specialization
intellectualism
pure reading
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you keep reading enjoyable?
- When does specialization hinder curiosity?
A Different Perspective
Depth can become a barrier to enjoyment.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)