It must be laid down once and for all, that the chief purpose of reading a classic like Rabelais is to prop and stay the spirit, especially in moments of weakness and enervation, against the stress of life, to elevate it above the reach of commonplace annoyances and degradations, and to purge it of despondency and cynicism....One closes with it gladly, joyfully, perceiving that for the sake of it all else that is lost is well lost.
François Rabelais