Insensibly he formed the most delightful habit in the world, the habit of reading: he did not know that thus he was providing himself with a refuge from all the distress of life; he did not know either that he was creating for himself an unreal world which would make the real world of every day a source of bitter disappointment. W. Somerset Maugham
About This Quote

The quote, “Insensibly he formed the most delightful habit in the world, the habit of reading” by Oliver Goldsmith, is about how our minds can be so easily wrapped up in books and books only. We learn only what we are taught and what we read seems to bring us into a fantasy land where nothing is as it is in reality. Reading books that are not real but rather make up of our imagination can lead us to live a life that is not truly ours.

Source: Of Human Bondage

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More Quotes By W. Somerset Maugham
  1. The great tragedy of life is not that men perish, but that they cease to love.
  2. How can I be reasonable? To me our love was everything and you were my whole life. It is not very pleasant to realize that to you it was only an episode.
  3. As lovers, the difference between men and women is that women can love all day long, but men only at times.
  4. He did not care if she was heartless, vicious and vulgar, stupid and grasping, he loved her. He would rather have misery with one than happiness with the other.
  5. If a man hasn't what's necessary to make a woman love him, it's his fault, not hers.
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