“Readers may be divided into four classes: I. Sponges, who absorb all they read, and return it nearly in the same state, only a little dirtied. II. Sand-glasses, who retain nothing, and are content to get through a book for the sake of getting through the time. III. Strain-bags, who retain merely the dregs of what they read. IV. Mogul diamonds, equally rare and valuable, who profit by what they read, and enable others to profit by it also.”

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Samuel Taylor Coleridge - “Readers may be divided into...” 1

Similar quotes

“I divide all readers into two classes: those who read to remember and those who read to forget.”

William Lyon Phelps
Read more

“I divide all readers into two classes: Those who read to remember and those who read to forget.”

William Phillips
Read more

“I divide all readers into two classes: Those who read to remember and those who read to forget.”

William Phelps
Read more

“Therefore I beg you, reader, not to rejoice too greatly if you have read much, but if you have understood much. Nor that you have understood much, but that you have been able to retain it. Otherwise it is of little profit either to read or to understand.”

Hugh of Saint-Victor
Read more

“Next to praying there is nothing so important in practical religion as Bible reading. By reading that book we may learn what to believe, what to be, and what to do; how to live with comfort, and how to die in peace.”Happy is that man who possesses a Bible! Happier still is he who reads it! Happiest of all is he who not only reads it, but obeys it, and makes it the rule of his faith and practice!”

J.C. Ryle
Read more