"To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting"

This quote by Edmund Burke is a metaphor that compares reading without showing to eating without digesting. It suggests that if one checks out without putting in the time to consider and comprehend what they are reading, then it is as if they are taking in something without allowing their body to process it. In other words, it is a wild-goose chase and energy. Burke is highlighting the value of putting in the time to reflect on what one checks out in order to gain a much deeper understanding of the product. He is recommending that it is inadequate to simply check out something; one must likewise take the time to consider it and consider its implications. By doing so, one can acquire a more meaningful understanding of the product and can use it to inform their choices and actions.