Do not read as children do to enjoy themselves, or, as the ambitious do to educate themselves. No, read to live.

Do not read, as children do, to amuse yourself, or like the ambitious, for the purpose of instruction. No, read in order to live.

Do not read as children do to enjoy themselves, or, as the ambitious do to educate themselves. No, read to live. (June 1857)

Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life.

We read to understand, or to begin to understand. We cannot do but to read. Reading almost as much as breathing, is our essential function.

Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.

In living, one learns how to read. (How, and with what result.)

So books should be lived to be read.
And life should be dreamt to be lived.

Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.

We wont develop until we accept that reading is a vital necessity.

If you are going to get anywhere in life you have to read a lot of books.

Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary

Yes, my child, you must read. You must read everything that comes your way. It doesn’t matter what you read at first, later you’ll learn discrimination. Schools are no good, Matty, you learn nothing at school. If you want to be anything, you must educate yourself.

Reading is better than life. Without reading, you’re stuck with life.