Insensibly he formed the most delightful habit in the world, the habit of reading: he did not know that thus he was providing himself with a refuge from all the distress of life; he did not know either that he was creating for himself an unreal world which would make the real world of every day a source of bitter disappointment.
The passage reflects on the transformative power of reading, highlighting how the act of engaging with literature can create a comforting escape from life's troubles. The protagonist, unaware of the profound impact it has, finds solace and pleasure in books, which serve as a sanctuary from the stresses of reality.
However, this refuge can also lead to complications. The joy derived from fictional worlds may distance an individual from real-life experiences,...