"Reading is an activity subsequent to writing: more resigned, more civil, more intellectual"

Jorge Luis Borges, an imposing figure in the world of literature, frequently looked into the complex dynamics between reading and writing, considering them not merely as acts of communication but as profound existential engagements. In the quote "Reading is an activity subsequent to writing: more resigned, more civil, more intellectual", Borges encapsulates the nuanced relationship in between these two essential literary processes.

To start with, his assertion that reading is subsequent to writing might be understood in a literal sense; composing must exist before it can be read. Nevertheless, Borges welcomes deeper reflection. Writing is often an act of development and origination, an expression of individual thought and feeling put onto a blank canvas. It is an active procedure driven by the author's intent and imagination. Reading, on the other hand, is an act of interpretation and reception. The reader engages with a text that has currently been forged, shaped, and concluded by its author.

When Borges explains reading as "more resigned", he indicates the reader's approval of the author's established story. Unlike the author, who wields autonomy over the production of material, the reader voluntarily welcomes a role of submission, giving up to the point of views and structures imposed by the author. This resignation is not passive but a mindful option to enter another's creative space.

Moreover, the characterization of reading as "more civil" highlights the decorum and dialogue inherent in the reading procedure. Checking out is an interaction, a silent discussion between the text and its audience, counting on a consensus of understanding and interpretation. It involves a determination to entertain concepts, feel sorry for characters, and challenge complicated styles within a structured framework.

Last but not least, Borges views reading as "more intellectual" due to the fact that it requires critical engagement and cognitive participation. The act of interpreting, analyzing, and manufacturing text requires an extensive workout of the mind. Reading changes raw information into knowledge and wisdom, reflecting a deliberate intellectual pursuit.

In this light, Borges' quote records the important and complementary nature of writing and reading. Composing initiates the narrative journey, while reading finishes it, each embodying special yet interconnected components of human expression and understanding.