Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a read more

Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi.

You, O Books, are the golden vessels of the temple, the arms of
the clerical militia with which the read more

You, O Books, are the golden vessels of the temple, the arms of
the clerical militia with which the missiles of the most wicked
are destroyed; fruitful olives, vines of Engaddi, fig-trees
knowing no sterility; burning lamps to be ever held in the hand.

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.

Book lovers will understand me, and they will know too that part of the pleasure of a library lies in read more

Book lovers will understand me, and they will know too that part of the pleasure of a library lies in its very existence

A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.

A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.

Laws die, Books never.

Laws die, Books never.

Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the
Almighty would answer me, and that mine read more

Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the
Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a
book.

We call some books immortal! Do they live?
If so, believe me, Time hath made them pure.
read more

We call some books immortal! Do they live?
If so, believe me, Time hath made them pure.
In Books, the veriest wicked rest in peace.

That is a good book which is opened with expectation, and closed with delight and profit.

That is a good book which is opened with expectation, and closed with delight and profit.