BAD BOOKS by Coleridge

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 26, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 21.

BAD BOOKS.

By Coleridge

NEVER, under any circumstances, read a bad book, and never spend a serious hour in reading a second-rate book. No words can overstate the mischief of bad reading.

A bad book will often haunt a man his whole life long. It is often remembered when much that is better is forgotten; it intrudes itself at the most solemn moments, and contaminates the best feelings and emotions. Reading trashy, second-rate books is a grievous waste of time, also.

In the first place, there are a great many more first-rate books than ever you can master; and, in the second place, you cannot read an inferior book without giving up an opportunity of reading a good one.

Books, remember, are friends; books affect character; and you can as little neglect your duty in respect of this as you can safely neglect any other moral duty that is cast upon you.—Coleridge.