“Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.”
— Jeff Bezos
Simplified Meaning:
When you spend too much time reading and not enough time creating or thinking for yourself, your mind may become less inventive. Imagine a person who loves watching cooking shows but never actually cooks. They know a lot about recipes and cooking techniques, but they don't develop their own cooking skills. In the same way, if you read a lot but don't use what you've learned to come up with your own ideas or solutions, your mind can become lazy. It's like if you only ever follow instructions and never try to solve problems on your own. While reading expands your knowledge, it's also important to engage your mind in creating and thinking independently. You can apply this by balancing your reading time with activities that challenge you to think creatively or solve problems. This way, you develop a more active and agile mind.
