Reader XCVIII, 2026

Jose Manuel Solares  

A sculpture inspired by Will Rogers' quote: “A man learns in only two ways: one is by reading, and the other is by associating with people smarter than himself."

Will Rogers puts forward a straightforward yet profound idea: human learning rests on two fundamental pillars—knowledge acquired individually and that which arises from interaction with others.

On the one hand, “by reading" symbolizes autonomous learning. Reading provides access to experiences, ideas, and knowledge accumulated over time. Through books, a person can educate themselves without depending on their immediate surroundings, broadening their perspective beyond what they directly experience. It is an active and personal process, where each individual develops their own judgment.

On the other hand, “through association with smarter people" introduces social learning. Rogers isn't just talking about academic intelligence, but about surrounding oneself with people who contribute something valuable: experience, critical thinking, skills, or different ways of seeing the world. Being in contact with people who are more capable in certain aspects pushes one to question, improve, and learn more quickly and practically.

The key to the phrase lies in complementarity. Reading provides a theoretical foundation and breadth of knowledge; interaction with others offers contrast, application, and real growth. Without reading, learning can be limited; without good company, it can become isolated or incomplete.

Ultimately, Rogers makes a challenging point: to truly learn, it's not enough to simply consume information; you also have to choose your social circle wisely. Because the people you surround yourself with end up influencing you just as much as the books you read.