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.

Once we have learned to read, meaning of words can somehow register without consciousness.

Once we have learned to read, meaning of words can somehow register without consciousness.

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the read more

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.

My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter.

My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter.

Readers are plentiful: thinkers are rare.

Readers are plentiful: thinkers are rare.

The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.

The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.

A bad book is as much of a labor to write as a good one, it comes as sincerely from read more

A bad book is as much of a labor to write as a good one, it comes as sincerely from the author's soul.

A man's got to take a lot of punishment to write a really funny book.

A man's got to take a lot of punishment to write a really funny book.

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.