My books are water; those of the great geniuses are wine -- everybody drinks water.

My books are water; those of the great geniuses are wine -- everybody drinks water.

The books we read should be chosen with great care, that they may be, as an Egyptian king wrote over read more

The books we read should be chosen with great care, that they may be, as an Egyptian king wrote over his library, "The medicines of the soul."

The Bible remained for me a book of books, still divine -- but divine in the sense that all great read more

The Bible remained for me a book of books, still divine -- but divine in the sense that all great books are divine which teach men how to live righteously.

I heard his library burned down and both books were destroyed -- and one of them hadn't even been colored read more

I heard his library burned down and both books were destroyed -- and one of them hadn't even been colored in yet.

A man of one book.
[Lat., Homo unius libri.]

A man of one book.
[Lat., Homo unius libri.]

Readers are plentiful: thinkers are rare.

Readers are plentiful: thinkers are rare.

That place that does contain
My books, the best companions, is to me
A glorious court, where read more

That place that does contain
My books, the best companions, is to me
A glorious court, where hourly I converse
With the old sages and philosophers;
And sometimes, for variety, I confer
With kings and emperors, and weigh their counsels;
Calling their victories, if unjustly got,
Unto a strict account, and, in my fancy,
Deface their ill-placed statues.

Books are humanity in print.

Books are humanity in print.

Old books that have ceased to be of service should no more be abandoned than should old friends who have read more

Old books that have ceased to be of service should no more be abandoned than should old friends who have ceased to give pleasure.