Men do not understand books until they have a certain amount of life, or at any rate no man understands read more

Men do not understand books until they have a certain amount of life, or at any rate no man understands a deep book, until he has seen and lived at least part of its contents.

He who studies books alone will know how things ought to be, and he who studies men will know how read more

He who studies books alone will know how things ought to be, and he who studies men will know how they are.

Only your friends steal your books

Only your friends steal your books

The profit of books is according to the sensibility of the reader. The profoundest thought or passion sleeps as in read more

The profit of books is according to the sensibility of the reader. The profoundest thought or passion sleeps as in a mine, until an equal mind and heart finds and publishes it.

It is all very well to be able to write books, but can you waggle your ears?

It is all very well to be able to write books, but can you waggle your ears?

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.

Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new after all

Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new after all

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

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

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.