The Pleasures of Reading

Arthur James Balfour served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1905, but he was also a noted philosopher and man of letters. In this speech delivered to the students of St. Andrews University in 1887, Balfour expounds on the joys and benefits of reading. He argues that literature, properly understood and practiced, can be a source of great intellectual, moral, and even spiritual nourishment. This eloquent and inspiring address is essential reading for book lovers and anyone interested in the power of ideas.

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