Reader CIII, 2026

Jose Manuel Solares  

A sculpture inspired by Jorge Luis Borges's quote: “Let others take pride in what they have written; I take pride in what I have read."

Borges downplays the importance of being an author and instead emphasizes the value of being a reader.

For the Argentine writer, reading does not simply mean accumulating information. Every book can transform the way we think, expand our imagination, and allow us to learn about other eras, cultures, and ways of seeing the world. That is why Borges believes that what we have read is also part of who we are: our ideas, our sensibilities, and even our identity are shaped by our experiences as readers.

Furthermore, the statement can be interpreted as a sign of intellectual humility. While writing can bring recognition and prestige, reading implies acknowledging that we always have something to learn from others. Borges suggests that true pride does not necessarily lie in creating one's own work, but in having had the ability to delve into the great works created by others and allow oneself to be influenced by them.

The quote advocates reading as a form of personal enrichment. The books we read do not disappear when we close their pages: they remain in our memory and help shape our view of the world. Thus, Borges reminds us that a person can also be defined by the stories, ideas, and knowledge they have chosen to discover.