Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some
books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by
others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and
the meaner sort of books, else distilled books are like common dis-
tilled waters, flashy things. Reading maketh a full man; conference a
ready man; and writing an exact man.
- Francis Bacon
Essays of Francis
