O, let my books be then the eloquence and dumb presages of my speaking breast.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
If we encountered a man of rare intellect we should ask him what books he read.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
As life grows more terrible, its literature grows more terrible.
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955) American Poet
I really do inhabit a system in which words are capable of shaking the entire structure of government, where words can prove mightier than ten military divisions.
—Vaclav Havel (1936–2011) Czech Dramatist, Statesman
A book must be an ice-axe to break the seas frozen inside our soul.
—Franz Kafka (1883–1924) Austrian Novelist, Short Story Writer
The books that everybody admires are those that nobody reads.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
Old books that have ceased to be of service should no more be abandoned than should old friends who have ceased to give pleasure.
—Peregrine Worsthorne (1923–2020) British Journalist, Writer, Broadcaster
Many readers judge of the power of a book by the shock it gives their feelings—as some savage tribes determine the power of muskets by their recoil; that being considered best which fairly prostrates the purchaser.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Buying books would be a good thing if one could also buy the time to read them in: but as a rule the purchase of books is mistaken for the appropriation of their contents.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
The reading or non-reading a book will never keep down a single petticoat.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Literature is without proofs. By which it must be understood that it cannot prove, not only what it says, but even that it is worth the trouble of saying it.
—Roland Barthes (1915–80) French Writer, Critic, Teacher
Books are embalmed minds.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
The multitude of books is a great evil. There is no limit to this fever for writing.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
It is not the first duty of the novelist to provide blueprints for insurrection, or uplifting tales of successful resistance for the benefit of the opposition. The naming of what is there is what is important.
—Ian McEwan British Novelist, Short-Story Writer
Outside of a dog, a book is probably man’s best friend, and inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.
—Groucho Marx (1890–1977) American Actor, Comedian, Singer
If you look at history you’ll find that no state has been so plagued by its rulers as when power has fallen into the hands of some dabbler in philosophy or literary addict.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar
He who lends a book is an idiot. He who returns the book is more of an idiot.
—Arabic Proverb
Diary: A daily record of that part of one’s life which he can relate to himself without blushing.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
We are as liable to be corrupted by books, as by companions.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
There is an art of reading, as well as an art of thinking, and an art of writing.
—Isaac D’Israeli (1766–1848) English Writer, Scholar
Properly, we should read for power. Man reading should be man intensely alive. The book should be a ball of light in one’s hand.
—Ezra Pound (1885-1972) American Poet, Translator, Critic
Without words, without writing and without books there would be no history, there could be no concept of humanity.
—Hermann Hesse (1877–1962) German-born Swiss Novelist, Poet
I divide all readers into two classes: those who read to remember and those who read to forget.
—William Lyon Phelps (1865–1943) American Literary Scholar, Academic
The book borrower…proves himself to be an inveterate collector of books not so much by the fervor with which he guards his borrowed treasures…as by his failure to read these books.
—Walter Benjamin (1892–1940) German Literary and Marxist Critic
Everywhere I have sought rest and not found it, except sitting in a corner by myself with a little book.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
The great standard of literature, as to purity and exactness of style, is the Bible.
—Hugh Blair (1718–1800) Scottish Preacher, Scholar, Critic
Every abridgement of a good book is a fool abridged.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
I find television to be very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go in the other room and read a book.
—Groucho Marx (1890–1977) American Actor, Comedian, Singer
If I had my way books would not be written in English, but in an exceedingly difficult secret language that only skilled professional readers and story-tellers could interpret. Then people like you would have to go to public halls and pay good prices to hear the professionals decode and read the books aloud for you. This plan would have the advantage of scaring off all amateur authors, retired politicians, country doctors and I-Married-a-Midget writers who would not have the patience to learn the secret language.
—Robertson Davies (1913–95) Canadian Novelist, Playwright, Essayist
He ate and drank the precious Words, his Spirit grew robust; He knew no more that he was poor, nor that his frame was Dust.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
Leave a Reply