Several open books float like birds above clouds in a violet and golden sunset sky.

Original artwork, not a still

Charles Caleb Colton

Some read to think, these are rare; some to write, these are common; and some read to talk, and these form the great majority.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

Reading turns out to have three different motives here. A few people read to reflect, more read to produce their own writing, and most read so they'll have something to discuss. It's a wry ranking that treats thinking as rare and conversation as the crowd favourite.

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