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About this quote

What does it mean?
Readers should actively control their consumption of text rather than passively letting it shape them.
In plain terms
You should control what you read, not let it control you.
What can you take from it?
Take an active role in your reading choices.

Where it applies

  • education
  • self-improvement

Putting it to work

  • curating reading lists
  • critical reading

Questions to consider

  • How do you choose what to read?
  • When does reading change you?

Another view

Sometimes passive reading can lead to serendipitous discovery.

More from Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

  1. Why are young widows in mourning so beautiful? (Look into it.)

    Permalink to quote #163
  2. We may use Lichtenberg's writings as the most wonderful dowsing rod: wherever he makes a joke, there a problem lies hidden.

    Permalink to quote #165
  3. What a blessing it would be if we could open and shut our ears as easily as we open and shut our eyes!

    Permalink to quote #162

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