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Books and reading

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“What I have seen as it deals with mental health in this country has made me believe in a need for advocacy towards a greater human understanding of emotional illness. I ask of anyone reading this book to devote some of their energies, time and moneys to explore, help, seek information, assist people in endeavors toward de-mystifying mental illness.”
Luz María Umpierre (born 1947) first seen 1995 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: For Christine: Poems and One Letter. Introduction. Chapel Hill, N.C.: Professional Press, 1995.
“I'm going to gently assume that if you're reading this book, you are a little bit of a nerd, or perhaps you're a man whose nerd girlfriend is taking a long time in the bathroom and you can't figure out how to turn on her television.”
Mindy Kaling (born 1979) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Because I like reading, I travelled in my mind and got into the world the book talked about. That gingered my power of imagination and broadened my outlook.”
Takyiwaa Manuh (born 1952) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The truth is you have to get on top of the reading as soon as possible and you have to keep in mind that this is the sum of people’s YEARS of hard labour, sweat and pain that you hold in your hands. Without being able to meet all the people who make that thing in your hand possible, you have to conjure up their presence, interact with every single book with great reverence.”
Yemisi Aribisala (born 1973) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: How she starts with her cookery books and the process in whittling them down to her longlist (8 February 2022)
“That’s still the best reading experience: falling in love with a book I meet by accident.”
Alice Hoffman (born 1952) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I was actually the one who brought the first padlock to Ponte Milvio. The book [I want you] was supposed to be released on February 9, 2006, the day before I went out in the evening to put the lock on. I said to myself: suppose someone reading this comes here to see if the story is true...”
Federico Moccia (born 1963) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Apart from the storyline, there’s the disparity between the hero and heroine. I’m one of those Christians who cannot say I woke up this morning and the holy spirit ministered unto me. Reading this book you understand that when God wants you for something, it doesn’t matter what you think.”
Siene Allwell-Brown wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“...the Vedic index. This book is an encyclopedia of historical and sociological knowledge extracted by study of the Vedic texts. It is based on a thorough review of Orientalist research, including especially the work of German Orientalists, but it is at the same time very much a British reading of the Vedic texts and the Orientalist interpretation of them.”
Arthur Berriedale Keith (1879–1944) said by 1944 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: About the Vedic index. Trautmann, Thomas R. (2008). Aryans and British India. 208
“Our greatest enemy is not the whites. It is our own disunity. They know that, of course, and they encourage it. Their Christian religion is one of the weapons they use to divide us. That, by the way, was why I disturbed you when you told me the book you were reading was their Bible.”
Manu Herbstein (born 1936) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The members of the government party will start jumping after reading this book.”
Rehana Akter Ranu first seen 2013 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: said showing a book by Motiur Rahman Rentu named Amar Fashi Chai in Parliament in 23 June 2013
“If you believe that you are not a machine, but that I am (then) I do not know why you are reading this book".”
Lewis White Beck (1913–1997) first seen 1975 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Lewis White Beck, The Actor and the Spectator - book reviewed by Mary Midgley in The Philosophical Quarterly", Vol. 27, Issue 107, April 1977 p. 185-186 (1975), p. 29
“My book is about reading critically and constructively against the grain, and claiming a particular space within the Muslim tradition to talk back to patriarchy. It is about claiming an authority within the tradition not for me, but for a certain voice of radical human equality which resides within the tradition.”
Sa'diyya Shaikh (born 1969) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: About her award-winning book. 2015
“Children will enjoy reading this book to find out the answers and other fascinating adventures of Ade.”
Christie Ade Ajayi (born 1930) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I grew up in Belgrade, former Yugoslavia and then went to school in the UK. I was a complete introvert, and a book worm who adored all things fashion. I was also a bit of a tomboy, so I spent my days reading, perfecting my strut (secretly in my room of course), and loads of time racing my bicycle with my brother.”
Vimbai Mutinhiri (born 1987) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Thank you for sending me a copy of your book. I'll waste no time reading it.”
Moses Hadas (1900–1966) said by 1966 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: In a letter: attributed in Byrne (1983), no. 524
“I then stopped reading because I decided that I needed to bring this person to life onscreen because a character in a book is different.”
Renate Stuurman wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I hate reading a book and not being able to locate myself.”
Sue Nyathi (born 1978) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“One's own cognitive destiny (not the ‘letter on the subject’) leads far away. Asking a question and reading a book—what could be more foolish?”
Manlio Sgalambro (1924–2014) said by 2014 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The great thing about reading a book is that you can imagine the character in your own mind, so I felt a bit pressured to create a character that people would be happy with. Apart from that pressure, it was so incredible, and I feel very honoured to have had this opportunity.”
Ella Bright (born 2006) first seen 2020 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Interview with Ella Bright". BBC Media Centre. 20 March 2020.
“My book was suggesting that there is no such thing as a successful society that it is not literate and without a culture of reading. That point as important to the entire Warriors story as anything. The movie failed to cover that. But, boy, it was some movie.”
Alan Duff (born 1950) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Distrust the book which reads too easily because such writing appeals more to the senses than to the intellect. Hard reading exercises the mind.”
John P. Marquand (1893–1960) said by 1960 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When discussing the possibility of a complete military takeover in the country after reading the book Seven Days in May, President Kennedy said, "...if there were a third Bay of Pigs, it could happen." He paused and then said "But it won't happen on my watch.”
John F. Kennedy (attributed) first seen 1966 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Related in The Pleasure of His Company, Paul Fay, Jr., New York: Harper & Row, 1966, p. 190.
“Do not believe that a book is good, if in reading it thou dost not become more contented with thy existence, if it does not rouse up in thee most generous feelings.”
Johann Kaspar Lavater (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I would not, if I could, give up the memory of the joy I have had in books for any advantage that could be offered in other pursuits or occupations. Books have been to me what gold is to the miser, what new fields are to the explorer, what a new discovery is to the scientific student.”
Margaret Elizabeth Sangster (1838–1912) said by 1912 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Welcome to my library! Ever since my high school days, books and magazines have been to my mind what friends are in the flesh. Each and every one of these books and articles-- a fraction of the 12,000 volumes that I share my house with-- has contributed to expanding my dream.”
Patch Adams (born 1945) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I don't suffer much from solitude in the evenings. I spring upon my books. I always spoke a good word for solitude, and it is grateful to me. Books ward off the ghastly thoughts.”
Samuel Palmer (1805–1881) said by 1881 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Life and letters of Samuel Palmer, Painter and Etcher (AH Palmer, London, 1892)
“The books which are called Biblical were an obstacle to the perfection of Christianity and, in terms of truly religious content, they could not even remotely be compared with the sacred books of India, as well as many others from earlier and later times.”
Friedrich Schelling (1775–1854) said by 1854 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Über das Studium der Theologie". Cf. Schellings Sämtliche Werke, Vol. V. Stuttgart 18S9, pp. 296 et seq. quoted in Poliakov, L. (1974). The Aryan myth : a history of racist and nationalist ideas in Europe p. 195
“I see echoes with lots of books in all my books, some deliberate, some unconscious until later, and as long as that is respectful I think that's great - writing on the shoulders of other writers is a privilege.”
China Miéville (born 1972) first seen 2012 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: China Mieville: "My job is not to try to give readers what they want...", theguardian.com, Thursday 20 September, 2012.
“A studious person may neglect his business for the sake of books; but if he does this, it is not his books that are to blame, but his want of principle of firmness.”
George Boole (1815–1864) said by 1864 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Attributed to George Boole : Des MacHale (1985) George Boole: his life and work. p. 5
“The end to which good men's libraries finally come is a melancholy subject. Few things are so much loved by some, and despised and neglected by others, as books, and specially theological books.”
J. C. Ryle (1816–1900) said by 1900 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Lewis Carroll is somebody who wore different hats. He was a clergyman, a mathematician, a teacher. He wrote serious books, and amazing children's books. He was a photographer. So like most people, he was many people in one skin. Creatively, he made a greater impact than almost any other Victorian, and yet we know next to nothing about him, we just fall back on the old cliché.”
Gyles Brandreth (born 1948) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If thou need money, get it in an honest way—by keeping books, if thou wilt, but not by writing books.”
John Lancaster Spalding (1840–1916) said by 1916 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Books must follow sciences, and not sciences books.”
Francis Bacon (1561–1626) said by 1626 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Mari qui veut surprendre est souvent fort surpris.[HTTP://BOOKS.GOOGLE.COM/books?id=dig6AAAAcAAJ&q=%22mari+qui+veut+furprendre+eft+fouvent+fort+furpris%22&pg=PA34#v=onepage]”
Voltaire (1694–1778) first seen 1759 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: La Femme Qui a Raison, Act 1, scene 2 (1759)
“'I'm sorry,' he said. 'You're Commander Poole, of course. But I'm sure we've never met before.'...He was glad of the encounter, and was pleased to know that Danil was back in normal society. Whether his original crime had been axe-murders or overdue library books should no longer be the concern of his one-time employer; the account had been settled, the books closed. p. 73”
Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) said by 2008 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Dreams, books, are each a world; and books, we know, Are a substantial world, both pure and good: Round these, with tendrils strong as flesh and blood, Our pastime and our happiness will grow.”
William Wordsworth (1770–1850) first seen 1806 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Personal Talk. Sonnets, no. 3 (wr. 1806; pub. 1807)
“With his sharp power of vision, resolute power of action, I doubt not he could have learned to write Books withal, and speak fluently enough;—he did harder things than writing of Books. This kind of man is precisely he who is fit for doing manfully all things you will set him on doing.”
Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) said by 1881 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“With books, as with companions, it is of more consequence to know which to avoid, than which to choose; for good books are as scarce as good companions.”
Charles Caleb Colton (1777–1832) said by 1832 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Writing long books is a laborious and impoverishing act of foolishness: expanding in five hundred pages an idea that could be perfectly explained in a few minutes. A better procedure is to pretend that those books already exist and to offer a summary, a commentary.”
Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) said by 1986 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I do not like books. I believe I have the smallest library of any literary man in London, and I have no wish to increase it. I keep my books at the British Museum and at Mudie's, and it makes me very angry if anyone gives me one for my private library.”
Samuel Butler (novelist) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Books which are no books.”
Charles Lamb (1775–1834) said by 1834 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Detached Thoughts on Books and Reading; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
“What's wrong with readin' comic books? I don't understand this kiddin' about readin' comic books. When I get through with 'em the other players on our club borrow them from me. Nobody makes a fuss about that.”
Yogi Berra (1925–2015) first seen 1952 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Al Abrams, from "Sidelight on Sports: A New One on Yogi" in The Pittsburgh Press (Monday, September 15, 1952), p. 20.
“In any case, rather like priests who have forgotten the meaning of the prayers they chant, we shall go on for quite a long time talking of books and writing books, pretending all the while not to notice that the church is empty and the parishioners have gone elsewhere to attend other gods, perhaps in silence or with new words.”
Gore Vidal (1925–2012) first seen 1967 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: French Letters: Theories of the New Novel" (1967)
“I was born, I think, with the desire to make beautiful books — brave books that would preserve the glories of the Dream untarnished, and would re-create them for battered people, and re-awaken joy and magnanimity.”
James Branch Cabell (1879–1958) said by 1958 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And on the subject of burning books: I want to congratulate librarians, not famous for their physical strength or their powerful political or their great wealth, who, all over this country, have staunchly resisted bullies who have tried to remove certain books from their shelves, and have refused to reveal to the names of persons who have checked out those titles.”
Kurt Vonnegut (1922–2007) said by 2007 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“They began by controlling books of cartoons and then detective books and, of course, films, one way or another, one group or another, political bias, religious prejudice, union pressures; there was always a minority afraid of something, and a great majority afraid of the dark, afraid of the future, afraid of the past, afraid of the present, afraid of themselves and shadows of themselves.”
Ray Bradbury (1920–2012) first seen 1950 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Usher II (1950)
“You can't guarantee things like that! After all, when we had all the books we needed, we still insisted on finding the highest cliff to jump off. But we do need a breather. We do need knowledge. And perhaps in a thousand years we might pick smaller cliffs to jump off. The books are to remind us what asses and fools we are.”
Ray Bradbury (1920–2012) said by 2012 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is more of a job to interpret the interpretations than to interpret the things, and there are more books about books than about any other subject: we do nothing but write glosses about each other.”
Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592) said by 1592 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Books of the avant-garde either establish themselves as books of lasting value, or they slip from the rear guard into the discard, and I believe the writers I mentioned have not proven trivial.”
Robertson Davies (1913–1995) said by 1995 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“But in their second-best rank, books of this academic sort are, of all books, the easiest to write. They chew over what has already been well chewed; they grapple with other scholars, seeking to bear them down into the academic ooze; they explore the vast caverns of the creator's spirit with no illumination save the smoky and fitful rushlight of their own critical intelligence.”
Robertson Davies (1913–1995) said by 1995 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source