And Now For a Few Words on Reading...


By Paulette Beete
Dutch painting of various books in an arched niche

Still Life with Books in a NicheBarthélémy d'Eyck, image via Rijksmuseum Studio

In our humble opinion, the only thing better than finishing a book is having another book queued up for you to dive into. Well, actually, we'll admit that that particular pleasure is neck and neck with the joy of  turning back to page one of the new favorite book you've just finished. And there are a lot of folks that agree with us. Here are some of our favorite quotes about the joys of books and reading. What are some of yours?

quotes by Ta-Nehisi Coates

“The pursuit of knowing was freedom to me, the right to declare your own curiosities and follow them through all manner of books.” — Ta-Nehisi Coates

 

quote by James Baldwin

“It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.” — James Baldwin

quote by Anna Quindles

“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.” — Anna Quindlen

quote by Annie Dillard

“She read books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.” — Annie Dillard

quote by Malcolm X

“My alma mater was books, a good library…. I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.” — Malcolm X

quote by Roxane Gay

“If you’re reading to find friends, you’re in deep trouble. We read to find life, in all its possibilities.” — Roxane Gay

quote by Jacqueline Woodson

“If someone had taken that book out of my hand said, You’re too old for this maybe I’d never have believed that someone who looked like me could be in the pages of the book that someone who looked like me had a story.” — Jacqueline Woodson