I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not

Host:
The dim light of the lamp flickered gently in the quiet room, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch with the passing minutes. Outside, the world moved on — cars, people, the steady hum of the city, but here in the small apartment, there was only the soft rustle of pages turning and the occasional clink of a coffee cup. Jack sat in his favorite chair by the window, a book open in his hands, the words blurring slightly as his mind wandered.

Across from him, Jeeny sat on the couch, curled up with her own book, the quiet ticking of the clock almost as present as their thoughts. For a long while, neither of them spoke, the room filled only with the comforting sound of turning pages.

Jeeny: [finally breaking the silence, her voice gentle] “Montesquieu once said — ‘I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.’”
Jack: [smiling faintly, still focused on his book] “That’s a bold claim. An hour of reading can fix anything?”
Jeeny: [looking up at him, her voice soft but thoughtful] “I think he meant that reading gives you the space to breathe. To step away from whatever’s weighing you down, even if just for a little while.”
Jack: [nodding slowly, still lost in thought] “Yeah, I get that. Sometimes, a good book pulls you out of your own head. Makes everything else feel a little quieter.”
Jeeny: [gently] “Exactly. Books give you a world to lose yourself in, even when your own feels overwhelming.”

Host:
The sound of pages turning was the only sound in the room for a while. Jack’s eyes scanned the words, but they weren’t really reading anymore. His thoughts had drifted, not far, but enough to settle into the rhythm of the moment.

Jack: [looking up after a pause] “You know, I never really understood how reading could be that kind of relief. I always thought it was just something people did for entertainment.”
Jeeny: [smiling softly] “It’s more than just entertainment. It’s like a temporary escape. Not from reality, but from the weight of it. It allows you to see things differently, if only for a while.”
Jack: [thoughtfully, staring out the window] “So, it’s not the story itself, but what it does for your mind. A kind of reset.”
Jeeny: [nodding] “Exactly. It’s like giving yourself permission to think differently, to breathe in new ideas, to let your worries drift away, even just for an hour.”

Host:
The evening light dimmed slightly, and the tick of the clock became louder in the silence, marking the passage of time. Jeeny set her book aside, looking at Jack with a gentle understanding in her eyes.

Jeeny: [softly, almost to herself] “Reading isn’t about ignoring the world. It’s about finding a space in it where you can feel free from the pressure. It’s like opening a door into another reality, one where the rules don’t apply for a moment.”
Jack: [smiling slightly] “It’s funny. I always thought the only real relief came from facing your problems head-on. But maybe, sometimes, the best way to face them is to step back, even if just for an hour.”
Jeeny: [gently] “Sometimes, perspective is the only thing you need. When you give your mind a break, even temporarily, you can come back to your problems with new strength.”

Host:
The rain began to fall softly outside, a comforting rhythm that blended perfectly with the stillness of the room. The sound of raindrops on the window was almost like a punctuation to their conversation. Jack leaned back in his chair, eyes now fully on Jeeny, the earlier tension from his thoughts having melted into the calm of the moment.

Jack: [softly, looking at her] “You’re right. It’s the mental distance. The space you get from things. That’s where the relief is. Not in solving it, but in just letting it be for a while.”
Jeeny: [nodding quietly] “Yes. You can’t always fix everything. But you can always give yourself a break. And sometimes, that’s the most important thing you can do for your mind.”
Jack: [smiling slightly] “Maybe that’s what I’ve been missing. I’ve been trying to solve everything, when maybe I just need a little more time to breathe, to reset.”
Jeeny: [gently] “Exactly. Time doesn’t always solve problems, but it helps you face them with a clearer mind.”

Host:
The rain continued, its steady rhythm like a companion to their thoughts. Jack stood up, stretching slightly, as if breaking the stillness for the first time in a while. The sound of pages turning resumed again, but it wasn’t a distraction anymore. It was just a part of the quiet, an ongoing rhythm between them.

Jack: [quietly, looking at his book] “I think I understand now. It’s not about escaping life; it’s about giving yourself the space to come back to it in a way that makes more sense.”
Jeeny: [smiling softly] “Exactly. Reading isn’t just an escape. It’s a way to return to yourself, to find balance in the chaos.”
Jack: [thoughtfully] “And that’s why it can be the best kind of relief. Not because it takes away the stress, but because it gives you the strength to handle it.”
Jeeny: [gently] “Yes. It reminds you that you’re not alone in your thoughts, that there’s a world of ideas waiting for you to explore, even when things feel overwhelming.”

Host:
As the night deepened, the city’s sounds quieted, and the soft glow of the lamp filled the room. Jack sat back down, the weight of their conversation settling over him like the rain on the window — gentle, constant, but grounding.

And in that quiet stillness,
the truth of Montesquieu’s words found its place —

that reading isn’t just about learning or escaping,
it’s about relieving the mind from the weight of the world,
allowing the soul to breathe and find its clarity.

Because sometimes,
the best way to face the storm
is to let yourself rest,
if only for an hour.