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About this quote

What does it mean?
A man valued contemplation over reading, arguing that reading alone does not increase knowledge without thought.
In plain terms
Thinking deeply matters more than simply reading many books.
What can you take from it?
Reflection turns information into understanding.

Where it applies

  • studying
  • writing
  • teaching

Putting it to work

  • prioritize reflection
  • think critically
  • balance reading and thinking

Questions to consider

  • How do you process what you read?
  • What turns reading into knowledge?

Another view

Reading is still essential to gather information to reflect on.

More from John Aubrey

  1. How these curiosities would be quite forgott, did not such idle fellowes as I am putt them downe.

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  2. The parliament intended to have hanged him, and he expected no less, but resolved to be hanged with the Bible under one arm and Magna Carta under the other.

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  3. He left an estate of eleaven thousand pounds per annum. Sir John Danvers, who knew him, told me that he had heard one say to him, reflecting on his great scrap…

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