Famous quote by Robertson Davies

"The great book for you is the book that has the most to say to you at the moment when you are reading. I do not mean the book that is most instructive, but the book that feeds your spirit. And that depends on your age, your experience, your psychological and spiritual need"

About this Quote

Robertson Davies' quote highlights the deeply personal and evolving relationship between a reader and a book. At its core, the declaration highlights the concept that the worth of a book is not universally fixed by its material however is instead determined by its resonance with the reader's present life context. This viewpoint suggests that a book's significance lies not simply in its educational content or literary merit, but in its ability to resolve the reader's immediate emotional and spiritual requirements.

Davies distinguishes between a book that is "instructional" and one that "feeds your spirit". The former may impart understanding and truths, while the latter deals nutrition to the soul, lining up with one's internal state and existential inquiries. This difference is vital as it highlights that reading is not merely an intellectual activity; it's a psychological and spiritual journey that can comfort, challenge, or transform the reader based upon what they are currently experiencing.

The quote also mentions that the relationship in between a reader and a book is fluid and changes gradually. As people age and accumulate various life experiences, their mental and spiritual requirements evolve. A book that might have been insignificant in one phase of life could end up being exceptionally meaningful in another. It recommends that readers ought to remain available to revisiting texts with fresh eyes, as what a book has to use can move drastically depending upon the reader's current life scenarios.

Thus, Davies is promoting for a conscious approach to reading, one that acknowledges and honors the personal and temporal nature of literary engagement. The "fantastic book" is not a fixed canon picked by external authorities, however a living discussion in between the text and the reader, continually refashioned by the ever-changing tapestry of individual life.

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TagsBookGreatSpiritual

About the Author

Canada Flag This quote is from Robertson Davies between August 28, 1913 and December 2, 1995. He/she was a famous Novelist from Canada. The author also have 29 other quotes.
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