Reading is the unbelievably healthy way _x000D_ my attention deficit disorder medicates itself. _x000D_ Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it's a way to _x000D_ make contact with reality after a day of making things up.
Nora EphronRead
I am still amazed at the amount of Christian charity [Wellesley] stuck us all with, a kind of glazed politeness in the face of boredom and stupidity. Tolerance, in the worst sense of the word. How marvelous it would have been to go to a women's college that encouraged impoliteness, that rewarded aggression, that encouraged argument.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques superficial politeness and advocates for more genuine, aggressive discourse in educational settings.
Nora Ephron's quote expresses frustration with the veneer of politeness she encountered at Wellesley College, suggesting that such behavior stifles meaningful debate and authenticity. She longs for a learning environment that rewards assertiveness and critical engagement rather than forcing students to conform to a culture of bland tolerance, emphasizing the value of robust discussion and debate in educational contexts.
Themes
CharityPolitenessEducationArgumentAggression
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech to students about the importance of critical thinking, one might use this quote to highlight the need for open debate.
More from Nora Ephron
All quotes →Reading makes me feel I've accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. ... Reading is bliss.
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I just want to go on making movies, and some of them will be completely meaningless, except, of course, to me.
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Every so often I would look at my women friends who were happily married and didn't cook, and I would always find myself wondering how they did it. Would anyone love me if I couldn't cook? I always thought cooking was part of the package: Step right up, it's Rachel Samstat, she's bright, she's funny and she can cook!
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Marriages come and go, but divorce is forever.
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What I love about cooking is that after a hard day, there is something comforting about the fact that if you melt butter and add flour and then hot stock, it will get thick! It's a sure thing! It's a sure thing in a world where nothing is sure; it has a mathematical certainty in a world where those of us who long for some kind of certainty are forced to settle for crossword puzzles.
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