“Autobiographies are only useful as the lives you read about and analyze may suggest to you something that you may find useful in your own journey through life.”
- October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962
- American
- First Lady of the United States, Diplomat, Human Rights Advocate, Chair of the UN Human Rights Commission
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Quote
“Autobiographies are only useful as the lives you read about and analyze may suggest to you something that you may find useful in your own journey through life.”
Explanation
In this quote, Eleanor Roosevelt emphasizes the practical value of autobiographies, suggesting that their worth lies not in mere storytelling, but in their power to offer guidance and reflection for the reader’s own life. The phrase “may suggest to you something” highlights that each reader must actively engage with the material, drawing insights that are personally meaningful and relevant.
Roosevelt was a prolific writer and a deeply reflective thinker, and this perspective aligns with her broader belief in learning through experience—both one’s own and others’. She implies that autobiographies are not sacred texts to be idolized, but rather mirrors and maps—tools that, when analyzed thoughtfully, can help illuminate one’s own path through difficulties, decisions, and personal growth.
In the modern era, where memoirs and personal storytelling are abundant, this quote reminds us that passive reading offers little. Instead, we are called to approach others’ lives with curiosity and discernment, asking what their choices and values might reveal about our own. It is a call to make reading an active, reflective part of self-development.
Would you like to share your impressions or related stories about this quote in the comments section?
