"Books are as useful to a stupid person"
By prashu
@prashu228 (37518)
India
October 4, 2012 11:06pm CST
hello friends,
I just want to clear my doubt regarding a quote or a line which is said by a famous philosopher "CHANAKYA" its says "BOOKS ARE AS USEFUL TO A STUPID PERSON AS A MIRROR IS USEFUL TO A BLIND PERSON" . The day i read this quote a few months back, i was really worried, i thought , if i read books then i am considered as a stupid person. Then i thought may be it has got some inner meaning. I am not an avid reader, but i do read some good books sometimes ,like just yesterday i completed the "Alchemist" . But when ever i read any book ,i remember the quote of "CHANAKYA" i am great admirer of this philosopher , so i do think about it. friends please if you can help me, in understanding the line. what could be the real meaning, or is it bad to read books, and also waste of money.
8 responses
@celticeagle (174669)
• Boise, Idaho
5 Oct 12
If a person can't read then book aren't any good to them. Just like not being able to see a person doesn't need a mirror. So quit thinking about the quote and keep reading. You make it harder than it really is. You aren't stupid and I am glad you enjoy reading books.
@celticeagle (174669)
• Boise, Idaho
6 Oct 12
Yes, keep the mind calm and if the book is any good before you know it you have left the problem behind and entered into the book's world.
@prashu228 (37518)
• India
6 Oct 12
thank yo so much, sometimes , when i am very much disturbed in mind, i do read but nothing goes into my mind, just i keep reading to avoid the disturbance in my mind, but sometimes i feel, whats the use of such reading? atleast i was able to keep my mind calm .
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37518)
• India
6 Oct 12
yes of course, when we enter or immerse in the book, we forget our pains at least for a while, and also we may start seeing life from other end, and the disturbance which was there before may also seem very small or nil.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (226588)
• Chile
7 Oct 12
When there is a two part sentence, start by the part you undersand better. You do know that mirrors are not useful to blind people as you need your eyes to look at your reflection at the mirror. The same thing happens Woth book. They are not useful to stupid people as they will not understand them. But it is very different stupidity from ignorance. If you are ignorant, you can learn. If you are stupid, you cannot understant anything ever.
@prashu228 (37518)
• India
15 Oct 12
yes, i understood , thanks for the explanation, so it would be easier for me to understand the sentence.
@jazel_juan (15745)
• Philippines
5 Oct 12
Do not read it literally.. for me it means if you read a book, do not just read it word for word.. read it and digest and see and comprehend what it means..what those words mean.
it is not bad to read books and it is never a waste of money as books enriches ones mind. it would be pretty useless for you to believe a philosopher that way if you do not understand what he means.
@prashu228 (37518)
• India
5 Oct 12
i didn't abuse him, i said i didn't understand the hidden meaning , that doesn't mean that i shouldn't believe.
@ravisivan (14082)
• India
5 Oct 12
prashu:
I may like to interpret this way.
Books are not useful to a stupid person because he will not put the knowledge he gets from it into practice. This is similar to a blind person standing before a mirror because he cannot see himself in the mirror.
On the other hand a non stupid person will read the book, grasp the contents, put it into practice and get the benefits of it. this is similar to an ordinary person standing before the mirror he looks at it adjusts his dress or hair.
I hope it is clear now.
@prashu228 (37518)
• India
5 Oct 12
yes, understood, i had an idea before, though not clear, now its clear
@prashu228 (37518)
• India
6 Oct 12
oh thanks a lot, very useful line indeed, i have learnt some new from all the responses
@mydanods (6513)
• Nigeria
5 Oct 12
why don't you ask yourself: why should a mirror be useless to a blind person? Then, would a silver plate be useful to a blind person? Both objects reflect light, you see. I think to both questions, no. Because he does not know what a mirror is nor what a silver plate is supposed to look like.
The same way with a book to a stupid person.
A stupid person lacks reason. Books are written for "reasons." So, a book will serve a stupid person no purpose. What he needs is something that functions without having any reason, like magic, or miracles etc.
really interesting quote, that.
@prashu228 (37518)
• India
6 Oct 12
thank you for the valuable explanation, such lines are very useful to enhance our knowledge.
@subhojit10 (7375)
• India
5 Oct 12
Well thank u for sharing this quote. Indeed Chanakya was a great philosopher and all his sayings and quotes are as meaningful and equally strong.
Well coming back to the discussion, the quote has been given in a good light and there is nothing negative in its meaning. He means that books are not only meant for those who are interested to study but also for those who are stupid by nature so that they can make themselves mature and amend themselves. Books are not meant for any specific section of people but for all the people alike.
What say?
@prashu228 (37518)
• India
5 Oct 12
oh ,thanks for the response, i thought the other way, "no matter how valuable things are kept in front of the stupid person they cant recognize its value, like how a blind person cannot use the mirror",
what say...
i may be wrong as well
@prashu228 (37518)
• India
5 Oct 12
thanks for the response, anyways , i want the actual meaning of the line, i guessed one or two ,but i want to know whether i am right or wrong.
