The scholar
The scholar, who really does nothing but 'trundle' books [trundle:
to drag around on a rolling cart] — the philologist at a
modest assessment about 200 a day — finally loses altogether
the ability to think for himself. If he does not trundle he does
not think. He replies to a stimulus (— a thought he
has read) when he thinks — finally he does nothing but react.
The scholar expends his entire strength in affirmation and denial,
in criticizing what has already been thought — he himself no
longer thinks . . . The instinct for self-defence has in his case
become soft; otherwise he would defend himself against books. The
scholar — a dêcadent [i.e., decaying mentally]. — This I have seen
with my own eyes: nature's gifted, rich and free already in their
thirties 'read to ruins', mere matches that have to be struck if
they are to ignite — emit 'thoughts'. — Early in the
morning at the break of day, in all the freshness and dawn of one's
strength, to read a book — I call that vicious!
—Nietzsche, Ecce
Homo