In Italo Calvino’s Why Read the Classics? he stresses the importance of reading a classic and when it is the most appropriate time in one’s life mentally to read them. Towards the end of his argument, Calvino cites a quote from Cioran that says, “While they were preparing the hemlock, Socrates was learning a tune on the flute. “What good will it do to you,” they asked, “to know this tune before you die?”. In this quote, Calvino is trying to allude to the idea of reading a classic. What good will it do to one if they decide to never read a classic or don’t find any interest in reading one? In addition, throughout Calvino’s writing, he argues the importance of how classics “help us understand who we are” and “where we stand”. Classics teach us not new lessons, but a rather stronger understanding of the ones we already know. With the use of the quote from Cioran, it fully enforces Calvino’s message of why it can be so important to read a classic in comparison to never reading one at all. Calvino also argues when it is the most appropriate time for a person to read a classic. He states, “Youth brings to reading, as to any other experience, a particular flavor and a particular sense of importance, whereas in maturity one appreciates (or ought to appreciate) many more details and level and meanings.” When one is young, “distraction and inexperience” at such an early point in life lead to failing to fully understand a classic. A classic has deep meanings and important life lessons that a young person would most probably not catch or pay attention to. There is a bigger picture than just the story plot itself. That is why once a person is older and has given a chance to experience what life is really about, they can fully engage in and be able to see those hidden deeper meaning in a classic. Calvino fully enforces this message and the importance of one’s level of maturity with this expressive quote.  

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.