The great American novel has not only already been written, it has already been rejected.

The great American novel has not only already been written, it has already been rejected.

I always read the last page of a book first so that if I die before I finish I'll know read more

I always read the last page of a book first so that if I die before I finish I'll know how it turned out.

Man ceased to be an ape, vanquished the ape, on the day the first book was written.

Man ceased to be an ape, vanquished the ape, on the day the first book was written.

Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.

Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.

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.

A real book is not one that we read, but one that reads us.

A real book is not one that we read, but one that reads us.

Books must follow sciences, and not sciences books.

Books must follow sciences, and not sciences books.

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.

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.