“For once the disease of reading has laid upon the system it weakens so that it falls an easy prey to that other scourge which dwells in the ink pot and festers in the quill. The wretch takes to writing. ”
— Virginia Woolf
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Are you suffering from the delightful 'disease of reading' that inevitably leads to writing? 🖋️✨ Virginia Woolf perfectly captured the irresistible urge of book lovers who eventually pick up the pen to share their own stories. What was the book that finally inspired you to start writing? Tell us in the comments below! “For once the disease of reading has laid upon the system it weakens so that it falls an easy prey to that other scourge which dwells in the ink pot and festers in the quill. The wretch takes to writing.” — Virginia Woolf
About this quote
There is a profound, beautiful vulnerability in falling deeply in love with the written word. Virginia Woolf reminds us that reading is not merely a pastime, but a transformative 'disease' that alters our very chemistry, stripping away our defenses and leaving us wide open to the magic of storytelling. Once we allow ourselves to truly inhabit the minds of others through books, our hearts soften, our empathy deepens, and we begin to see the world not just as it is, but as it could be. Yet, this sweet affliction rarely stops at consumption; it inevitably spills over into creation. When the weight of what we have read settles into our bones, it festers into a yearning to leave our own mark upon the blank page. Taking up the pen is an act of courage—a way to pour our own sorrows, joys, and existential wonder back into the universe. To be 'afflicted' with the urge to write is to accept the invitation to share your soul with the world, transforming quiet introspection into a lasting legacy of human connection.
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Photo by Noha Badawi on Unsplash
