I had better never see a book than to be warped by its attraction clean out of my own orbit, and made a satellite instead of a system. The one thing in the world, of value, is the active soul.

Summary

This quote implies that it is preferable to never encounter a book rather than allowing oneself to become entirely engrossed in its allure and losing one's own individuality and purpose. The speaker values the active and independent soul over being a passive follower or being overshadowed by another person's thoughts and ideas. It suggests that self-discovery, personal growth, and an engaged mind are the most valuable things in the world.

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