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About this quote

What does it mean?
He warns that excessive reading without independent thought leads to lazy thinking.
In plain terms
Read too much without thinking and your brain gets lazy.
What can you take from it?
Balance consumption with active thinking.

Where it applies

  • studying
  • self improvement
  • reading habits

Putting it to work

  • taking breaks from books
  • writing reflections
  • practicing original thought

Questions to consider

  • How do you avoid passive learning?
  • When does reading help creativity?

Another view

Reading is still vital for knowledge.

More from Albert Einstein

  1. Perfection of means and confusion of goals seem - in my opinion - to characterize our age.

    Permalink to quote #227
  2. Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.

    Permalink to quote #229
  3. Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.

    Permalink to quote #226

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