One may as well be asleep as to read for anything but to improve his mind and morals, and regulate his conduct

One may as well be asleep as to read for anything but to improve his mind and morals, and regulate his conduct

Laurence Sterne, the renowned 18th-century novelist and clergyman, was a firm believer in the power of literature to shape and improve the mind and morals of individuals. In his works, particularly in his most famous novel "Tristram Shandy," Sterne often explored the themes of self-improvement, moral development, and the importance of reading for intellectual growth.

The quote "One may as well be asleep as to read for anything but to improve his mind and morals, and regulate his conduct" encapsulates Sterne's belief in the transformative power of reading. For Sterne, reading was not merely a passive activity but a means of actively engaging with ideas, values, and perspectives that could enrich one's understanding of the world and oneself. He believed that reading should serve a higher purpose beyond mere entertainment or distraction.