In The Catcher In The Rye, a former teacher named Mr. Antolini allows Holden Caufield to crash at his house. Mr. Antolini gives him some drunken advice regarding education:


"Among other things, you'll find that you're not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. You're by no means alone on that score, you'll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You'll learn from them-- if you want to. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn't education. It's history. It's poetry. . . ."


Then, later on, Holden wakes up from his sleep, to the touch of Mr. Antolini's hand on his head.