"Backward ran sentences until reeled the mind"

This quote by Wolcott Gibbs is a funny method of expressing the sensation of confusion and disorientation. It recommends that when we are presented with excessive info, our minds become overloaded and we can no longer make sense of it. The phrase "backward ran sentences" indicates that the sentences are being presented in a jumbled, chaotic way, making it difficult to understand. The expression "up until reeled the mind" suggests that the mind is spinning, unable to comprehend the information it is being presented with. This quote is a humorous method of revealing the sensation of being overwhelmed by too much details. It is a suggestion to take a step back and process the details in a more orderly manner.