Why writing well matters:

"Writing well means never having to say, 'I guess you had to be there.' " ~Jef Mallet

Why reading is worth your while:

"It is not true that we have only one life to lead; if we can read, we can live as many more lives and as many kinds of lives as we wish.~S.I. Hayakawa

"I cannot live without books."~Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson's personal library,  located in the Library of Congress

Words from Ann Patchett:

Let me underscore the obvious here: Reading fiction is important. It is a vital means of imagining a life other than our own, which in turn makes us more empathetic beings. Following complex story lines stretches our brains beyond the 140 characters of sound-bite thinking, and staying within the world of a novel gives us the ability to be quiet and alone, two skills that are disappearing faster than the polar icecaps.