A couple years ago, the novelist Russell Banks told me he was reading the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. I asked why. He said, 'Because I've always wanted to and am tired of having my reading assigned.' I thought it was a marvelous declaration of independence.

In this quote, Richard Russo reflects on a conversation he had with novelist Russell Banks, where Banks expressed his desire to read the ancient Greek historian Herodotus because he had always wanted to, but had never done so due to assigned reading. Russo admires this statement, seeing it as a marvelous declaration of independence, suggesting that Banks’ decision to choose his own reading, based on personal interest, symbolizes a liberation from external expectations and a move toward personal autonomy in intellectual pursuits.

The origin of this statement lies in Russo's interpretation of individual freedom and the pursuit of knowledge. By choosing what he wanted to read rather than following the assignments or instructions dictated by others, Banks was exercising his independence in a way that went beyond just physical freedom. For Russo, this small act of choosing what to read on his own terms represents a larger gesture of intellectual self-reliance and the rejection of constraints placed on personal decisions, especially in education.

Russo’s appreciation of this act highlights his own views on independence, particularly in relation to learning and growth. It is not just about freedom from external authority but about embracing personal curiosity and initiative in the pursuit of knowledge. By deciding for himself what books to read, Banks asserted control over his own intellectual journey, which Russo sees as a form of empowerment and an affirmation of one’s autonomy in decision-making.

Ultimately, the quote reflects Russo’s admiration for intellectual independence, suggesting that true freedom comes when individuals can break free from prescribed paths and make decisions based on their own interests and desires. In this way, Banks’ simple declaration about his reading habits becomes a profound statement about the broader human need for self-determination in both thought and action.