Does there, I wonder, exist a being who has read all, or approximately all, that the person of average culture is supposed to have read, and that not to have read is a social sin? If such a being does exist, surely he is an old, a very old man.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Bennett humorously questions whether anyone truly reads all the books expected of an average cultured person. He suggests that if such a person exists, they must be extremely old due to the time required.
- In plain terms
- It takes a very long time to read everything a cultured person is expected to know.
- What can you take from it?
- Cultural literacy is a lifelong pursuit that few complete.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What books define culture for you?
- How do you feel about unread expectations?
Another view
The quote assumes a static definition of 'average culture' which changes over time.
More from Arnold Bennett
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