"I divide all readers into two classes: those who read to remember and those who read to forget"

William Lyon Phelps' quote, "I divide all readers into two classes: those who check out to remember and those who read to forget", encapsulates the double nature of reading as a human activity. This department speaks to the complex functions behind why individuals engage with texts.

For those who "check out to bear in mind", the act of reading is a cerebral workout, driven by a quest for knowledge, understanding, and enlightenment. These readers approach texts as repositories of information and insight, looking for to draw out wisdom that can be applied to their lives or shown others. Checking out in this sense is a means of preserving and enhancing the mind. It suggests an intentional effort to anchor oneself in the facts, stories, and philosophies that literature uses. These readers may gravitate towards historic works, scientific literature, or philosophical texts-- anything that expands their intellectual horizons and leaves an enduring imprint on their memory.

Alternatively, readers who "read to forget" discover refuge in the act of reading as an escape from the concerns of reality. For them, literature uses a sanctuary, a way to go beyond the immediate issues and difficulties of daily life. This type of reading is restorative, supplying solace and short-lived release from stress or worry. Fiction, dream, poetry, and other immersive genres end up being cars for escapism, permitting people to inhabit various worlds, experience new feelings, and temporarily disengage from their routines or problems. In this sense, checking out ends up being an act of self-care, a mindful retreat into the imagination where one can reset and rejuvenate.

Phelps' dichotomy underscores the flexibility of literature in catering to varied human needs. Whether it functions as an intellectual tool or a soothing balm, checking out fulfills essential functions in improving both the mind and the spirit. This quote eloquently acknowledges the personal inspirations behind our literary pursuits, advising us that reading is a deeply individual experience shaped by the reader's current desires, needs, and circumstances.