About this quote

Books can cut through the clutter and give you one clear idea to act on. A single passage can change how you see a problem or point to a new question to try. Read with purpose: pick one line and test it in your next conversation, project, or plan. Who do you want that spark for—a teammate, a student, or yourself?

When to use it

• Before my literature final, I reread that line to settle my nerves and to pull one clear angle for the essay.
• When my seven-year-old couldn't stop worrying about the dark, I read this passage and her whole face softened.
• At a product brainstorm, I suggested we bring a book to the table and quoted that idea to nudge the team away from quick web searches.
• During a slow week of recovery after surgery, I carried a small novel and used that line to push myself to read one short chapter each day.