Why do we read classical literature? , by: Italo Calvino

"Why do we read classical books instead of reading books that help us understand our time?" "How do we find peace of mind and free time to read classics, especially with a flood of printed news today?" Of course, we can assume the existence of a lucky reader who finds ample time for readings dedicated solely to books: Lucretius, Lucian, Montaigne, Erasmus, Kevedo, Marlowe, an article on Descartes' method, Wilhelm Meister by Goethe, Coleridge, Raskin, Proust, Valéry, with some exploration of the writings of the Japanese author Murasaki or Icelandic traditional tales. And assuming that the same reader is not compelled to write reviews of the last book read, nor to write research papers to obtain a university seat, nor to edit a book due to a short-term work contract, then he must continue his routine without desecrating his days, and avoid reading daily newspapers, and not succumb to the latest novel or a sociological survey. But it is essential to reflect on how beneficial this approach is. The contemporary world may be trivial and silly, but it remains a fixed point by which we compare our progress or lag. Reading the classics requires determining their "coordinates" in the time of their reading, otherwise both the book and its reader will be lost in an eternal maze; the reader can derive the maximum benefit from a classical book if he reads it with skillful exchange and precise doses of contemporary writings. I do not assume an inner balance in such a reader; he may indicate a nervous mood, impatience, and difficulty in satisfaction.