“…a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.” ~ Tyrion Lannister, A Games of Thrones
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) by George R.R. Martin
Tyrion Lannister and Jon Snow are speaking when the line is said. Jon asks Tyrion why he reads so much. Tyrion responds that he is aware of his own strengths and weaknesses. Due to his physical limitations, it would be nearly impossible for Tyrion to effectively fight with a sword or warhammar. Therefore, his mind is his weapon. In order to keep it sharp, he needs to read to broaden his understanding of the world around him.
Those who are booklovers can probably relate and understand this quote quite easily. With Tyrion, feeding his mind with knowledge and keeping it sharp, it assists him in being ahead of the game that everyone is playing. Being sharp can help him with negotiations, compromising, and looking ahead of what’s to come.
In life, I think most of us can agree that reading assists our minds in many ways that other activities can’t. It feeds our minds with knowledge, gives us insight to the way others think, enhances our compassion for others, and so much more.
Here are some ways to sharpen the mind:
- Free-time reading
- Group readings
- Book clubs
- Online book discussions
- Podcasts that focus on specific books
- Blogging 😉
Who can find this applicable?
Anyone who can read and/or listen to books. 🙂
The significance to me:
From the day that I understood the significance and happiness of reading (thank you J.K. Rowling!!), I feel I have not only grown as a person, but I have a deeper understanding of the world.
Here are some ways that reading has helped me:
- Fluency in both my reading aloud and my verbal fluency in conversation (growing up, I had some issues with my fluency)
- Growth in vocabulary
- History and how it affects our world today
- Better understanding how people express their emotions in different ways
- Seeing how others problem/solve in a variety of situations
What are your thoughts?
What does reading mean to you? What else can you add to this post?
Thank you for reading! 🙂