"Buying books would be a good thing if one could also buy the time to read them in: but as a rule the purchase of books is mistaken for the appropriation of their contents"

Arthur Schopenhauer, a 19th-century thinker understood for his pessimistic viewpoint, touches upon a typical problem faced by avid readers and book collectors in this quote. At its core, Schopenhauer highlights the distinction between the mere acquisition of books and the genuine assimilation of their understanding and insights.

The first part of the quote, "Buying books would be a good thing if one could likewise purchase the time to read them in", speaks to the contemporary circumstance of accumulating ownerships, consisting of books, without having the adequate time to engage with them meaningfully. This can be particularly resonant in today's hectic world, where the digital age uses endless information and home entertainment, yet individual time stays limited. Schopenhauer is reminding us that obtaining books is only valuable if we also allow ourselves the time to delve into their content and reflect on their significances. Otherwise, books remain simply physical objects, not sources of enlightenment or knowledge.

The latter half of the quote, "as a rule, the purchase of books is misinterpreted for the appropriation of their contents", dives deeper into a typical cognitive error: conflating ownership with understanding. Schopenhauer recommends that there is a propensity to relate the belongings of a book with the understanding or proficiency of the product included within it. This conflation can lead individuals to overestimate their knowledge and insight merely due to the fact that they own a collection of works, instead of having actually engaged with and comprehended them.

In essence, Schopenhauer is promoting for a more mindful and deliberate technique to reading. He urges us not to be content with the shallow act of purchasing or gathering books however to prioritize the time to read, reflect, and internalize the wisdom they provide. By stressing this reflective engagement, Schopenhauer highlights the real function of books: not simple acquisition, however improvement through understanding.