Reading without purpose is sauntering not exercise.
A man ought to read just as inclination leads him, for what he reads as a task will do him little good.
It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.
I love being educated by historical novels.
Do not suppose, however, that I intend to urge a diet of classics on anybody. I have seen such diets at work. I have known people who have actually read all, or almost all, the guaranteed Hundred Best Books. God save us from reading nothing but the best.
The waitress comes over to me like, 'What'chu readin' for?' I had never been asked that. Not 'What am I reading?' but 'What am I reading for?' Goddammit, you stumped me. Hmm, why do I read? I suppose I read for a lot of reasons, one of the main ones being so I don't end up being a... waffle waitress.
I am self-educated from genre books.
I never have time to read now. I did all my reading before I was twenty.
We read not only because we cannot know enough people, but because friendship is so vulnerable, so likely to diminish or disappear, overcome by space, time, imperfect sympathies, and all the sorrows of familial and passional life.
I start my day with a hot water and lemon routine. I meditate. And I take my problems lightly, like my mother always said: treat them like helium balloons and let them go. I devour a lot of books to feed my mind.
It is manifest that all government of action is to be gotten by knowledge, and knowledge best, by gathering many knowledges, which is reading.
In quoting of books, quote such authors as are usually read; others you may read for your own satisfaction, but not name them.
I feel like the books that I'm reading at any given time will really help me with my work, because it's just more characters, and you see new people while you're reading.
I have said it often and I will say it again: I believe you learn to read when you are young, then read to learn for the rest of your life.
