“I'm quite illiterate, but I read a lot.”
What this quote means
This quote highlights the difference between formal education and personal learning. Salinger, although educated, calls himself 'illiterate' to emphasize that diplomas don't make culture. What matters is curiosity and the will to learn on one's own. Reading widely is opening up to the world, developing one's thinking, without being limited to academic frameworks. It's a praise of self-teaching and the thirst for knowledge.
How to apply it daily
Choose a topic you know nothing about, and read a book or article on it today. Note what you learned and how it expands your perspective.
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