Who said “Does there, I wonder, exist a being who has read all, or approximately all, that the…”?

Verified

Arnold Bennett. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Journals of Arnold Bennett, ed. Newman Flower (pub. Cassell, 1932)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“Does there, I wonder, exist a being who has read all, or approximately all, that the person of average culture is supposed to have read, and that not to have read is a social sin? If such a being does exist, surely he is an old, a very old man.”
VerifiedThe Journals of Arnold Bennett, ed. Newman Flower (pub. Cassell, 1932) · evidenceBooks and Reading

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Journals of Arnold Bennett, ed. Newman Flower (pub. Cassell, 1932).

APA

Bennett, A. (n.d.). Does there, I wonder, exist a being who has read all, or approximately all, that the person of average culture is supposed to have read, and that not to have read is a social sin? If such a being does exist, surely he is an old, a very old man. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8478-does-there-i-wonder-exist-a-being-who/

MLA

Bennett, Arnold. “Does there, I wonder, exist a being who has read all, or approximately all, that the person of average culture is supposed to have read, and that not to have read is a social sin? If such a being does exist, surely he is an old, a very old man.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8478-does-there-i-wonder-exist-a-being-who/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Bennett, Arnold. “Does there, I wonder, exist a being who has read all, or approximately all, that the person of average culture is supposed to have read, and that not to have read is a social sin? If such a being does exist, surely he is an old, a very old man.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8478-does-there-i-wonder-exist-a-being-who/.