“What do these children do without story books?" Naftali asked.And Reb Zebulun replied: "They have to make do. Storybooks aren't bread. You can live without them.""I couldn't live without them." Naftali said.”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote Analysis
In this quote from Issac Bashevis Singer, Naftali raises the question of what children do without story books, to which Reb Zebulun responds by stating that they have to make do as storybooks are not essential for survival like bread. Naftali, however, disagrees and asserts that he couldn't live without storybooks. This exchange highlights the different values individuals place on storytelling and literature, with Naftali emphasizing the significant impact that stories have on his life. It underscores the power of storytelling to enrich our lives and provide us with meaning and escape from reality.
The Value of Storybooks in Modern Society
In this quote from Issac Bashevis Singer's work, the characters discuss the importance of storybooks in their lives. While Reb Zebulun argues that storybooks are not essential like bread, Naftali vehemently disagrees, stating that he couldn't live without them. This conversation highlights the modern relevance of the role of storybooks in shaping imagination, fostering empathy, and promoting literacy in today's society.
Conversation about Story Books
"What do these children do without story books?" Naftali asked. And Reb Zebulun replied: "They have to make do. Storybooks aren't bread. You can live without them." "I couldn't live without them," Naftali said. - Issac Bashevis Singer
Reflection Questions:
In this passage from Isaac Bashevis Singer's work, the characters Naftali and Reb Zebulun have differing opinions on the importance of storybooks. This prompts the reader to consider the significance of reading and storytelling in one's life. Reflect on the following questions to explore your own thoughts on the matter:
- How important are storybooks in your life?
- What role do storybooks play in shaping your perspective or imagination?
- Do you agree with Reb Zebulun's statement that storybooks are not essential for survival?
- How does Naftali's response challenge the notion that storybooks are not necessary for life?
- What do you think would be lost if storybooks were no longer available to children?
- In what ways do storybooks enrich our lives and offer unique experiences that cannot be replaced by other means?
Similar quotes
“What do these children do without storybooks?" Naftali asked. And Reb Zebulun replied: "They have to make do. Storybooks aren't bread. You can live without them." I couldn't live without them." Naftali said.”
“Of all the blessings bestowed on man, the greatest lies in the fact that God's face is forever hidden from him”
“One prays for life , life means free choice and freedom is mystery . If one knew the truth how could there be freedom”
“A rock was sticking out of the water, jagged and pointed, covered with moss--a remnant of the Ice Age. It had withstood the rains, the snows, the frost, the heat. It was afraid of no one. It did not need redemption, it had already been redeemed.”
“What do they know-all these scholars, all these philosophers, all the leaders of the world - about such as you? They have convinced themselves that man, the worst transgressor of all the species, is the crown of creation. All other creatures were created merely to provide him with food, pelts, to be tormented, exterminated. In relation to them, all people are Nazis; for the animals it is an eternal Treblinka.”
“The characters have their own lives and their own logic, and you have to act accordingly.”