A fine gentleman like that, they said, had no need of books. Let him leave books, they said, to the palsied or the dying. But worse was to come. For once the disease of reading has laid hold upon the system it weakens it so that it falls an easy prey to that other scourge which dwells in the ink pot and festers in the quill. The wretch takes to writing. Virginia Woolf
About This Quote

In the 18th century, a writer named Jeremy Bentham was writing a book called "The Principles of Morals and Legislation." In this book, Bentham wrote, "A fine gentleman like that, they said, had no need of books. Let him leave books to the palsied or the dying. But worse was to come. For once the disease of reading has laid hold upon the system it weakens it so that it falls an easy prey to that other scourge which dwells in the ink pot and festers in the quill." Bentham was warning people about his book being written by a person who was already prone to suicide.

In today's world, so many books have been written about depression and mental illness. Although it is important to be educated about these topics, people should not take it at face value. It is essential that we do not take their words as indicating a cure for a disease that they may never have experienced themselves.

Source: Orlando

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