Human contacts have been so highly valued in the past only because reading was not a common accomplishment.... The world, you must remember, is only just becoming literate. As reading becomes more and more habitual and widespread, an ever-increasing number of people will discover that books will give them all the pleasures of social life and none of its intolerable tedium.

Summary

This quote suggests that human contact was highly cherished in the past because reading was not widespread. As more people become literate, they will realize that books can provide the same joys as social interaction without the drawbacks of boredom and monotony that sometimes accompany social gatherings. The quote acknowledges the shift towards a more literate society and implies that reading can offer a rich and fulfilling alternative to traditional forms of socializing.

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