Elbert Hubbard on Books Before Gum
on Wednesday, March 19, 2014Elbert Hubbard Money Quotation saying we must make reading a higher priority purchase than chomping gum. Elbert Hubbard said:
“This will never be a civilized country until we spend more money for books than we do for chewing gum” — Elbert Hubbard
This quote from Elbert Hubbard suggests that a truly sophisticated and educated society will be one where intellectual and cultural pursuits are valued above more frivolous indulgences.
The best interpretation is that Hubbard believed widespread public prioritization and investment of money in books, knowledge and ideas indicates a populace and culture committed to learning, personal growth and civic betterment. In contrast, spending more on transient items like chewing gum shows a lack of focus on development of the mind.
According to Hubbard, when a nation allocates greater financial resources collectively to informational and creative works through reading rather than momentary pleasures, it will have achieved a higher “civilized” level of social and economic progress.
The implication is that the spending habits of citizens reveal the priorities of a country.
Birthday: June 19, 1856 – Death: May 7, 1915
#NationalBookLoversDay August 9