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Books: Quotations from Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations
Faintly as tolls the evening chime, Our voices keep tune and our oars keep time, Soon as the woods on shore look dim, We'll sing at St. Ann's our parting hymn; Row, brothers, row, the stream runs fast, The rapids are near and the daylight's past!— MOORE — A Canadian Boat Song.
Gracefully, gracefully glides our bark On the bosom of Father Thames, And before her bows the wavelets dark Break into a thousand gems.— THOS. NOEL — A Thames Voyage.
Learn of the little nautilus to sail, Spread the thin oar, and catch the driving gale.— POPE — Essay on Man. Ep. III. L. 177.
The oars were silver: Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke.— Shakespeare — Antony and Cleopatra. Act II. Sc. 2. L. 199.
Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to mankind, which are delivered down from generation to generation, as presents to the posterity of those who are yet unborn,— ADDISON — The Spectator. No. 166.
That is a good book which is opened with expectation and closed with profit.— ALCOTT — Table Talk. Bk. I.
Learning-Books. The books that charmed us in youth recall the delight ever afterwards; we are hardly persuaded there are any like them, any deserving equally our affections. Fortunate if the best fall in our way during this susceptible and forming periods of our lives.— ALCOTT — Table Talk. Bk. I.
Learning-Books. Books are delightful when prosperity happily smiles; when adversity threatens, they are inseparable comforters. They give strength to human compacts, nor are grave opinions brought forward without books. Arts and sciences, the benefits of which no mind can calculate, depend upon books. t. RICHARD AUNGERVYLE (Richard De Bury)-Philobiblon. Ch. I. 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, figtrees knowing no sterility; burning lamps to be ever held in the hand. u. RICHARD AUNGERVYLE (Richard De Bury)-Philobiblon. Ch. XV. Books must follow sciences, and not sciences books.— BACON — Proposition touching
Amendment of Laws. But the images of men's wits and knowledges remain in books, exempted from the wrong of time, and capable of perpetual renovation.— BACON — Advancement of Learning. Bk. I. Advantages of Learning.
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. C.— BACON — Essay. Of Studies.
Worthy books Are not companions-they are solitudes: We lose ourselves in them and all our cares.— BAILEY — Festus. Sc. A Village Feast.
Evening. 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.— BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER — The Elder Brother. Act I. Sc. 2.
Books, books, books! I had found the secret of a garret room Piled high with cases in my father's name; Piled high, packed large,-where, creeping in and out Among the giant fossils of my past, Like some small nimble mouse between the ribs Of a mastodon, I nibbled here and there At this or that box, pulling through the gap, In heats of terror, haste, victorious joy, The first book first. And how I felt it beat Under my pillow, in the morning's dark, An hour before the sun would let me read! My books! At last, because the time was ripe, I chanced upon the poets.— E. B. BROWNING — Aurora Leigh. Bk. I. L. 830.
We get no good By being ungenerous, even to a book, And calculating profits-so much help By so much reading. It is rather when We gloriously forget ourselves, and plunge Soul-forward, headlong, into a book's profound, Impassioned for its beauty, and salt of truth- 'Tis then we get the right good from a book.— E. B. BROWNING — Aurora Leigh. Bk. I. L. 700.
Some said, John, print it, others said, Not so; Some said, It might do good, others said, No.— BUNYAN — Apology for his Book. L. 39.
Some books are lies frae end to end.— BURNS — Death and Dr. Hornbook.
'Tis pleasant, sure, to see one's name in print; A book's a book, although there's nothing in't,— BYRON — English Bards and Scotch Reviewers. L. 51,
All that Mankind has done, thought, gained or been it is lying as in magic preservation in the pages of Books. They are the chosen pos session of men.— CARLYLE — Heroes and Hero Worship.
Lecture V. If a book come from the heart, it will contrive to reach other hearts; all art and au thorcraft are of small amount to that.— CARLYLE — Heroes and Hero Worship.
Lecture II. If time is precious, no book that will not improve by repeated readings deserves to be read at all.— CARLYLE — Essays. Goethe's Helena.
In books lies the soul of the whole Past Time; the articulate audible voice of the Past, when the body and material substance of it has altogether vanished like a dream.— CARLYLE — Heroes and Hero Worship.
The Hero as a Man of Letters. In the poorest cottage are Books: is one Book, wherein for several thousands of years the spirit of man has found light, and nourishment, and an interpreting response to what ever is Deepest in him.— CARLYLE — Essays. Corn-Law Rhymes.
The true University of these days is a collec、 tion of Books.— CARLYLE — Heroes and Hero-Worship.
The Hero as a Man of Letters. "There is no book so bad," said the bachelor, "but something good may be found in it."— CERVANTES — Don Quixote. Pt. II. Ch. III.
It is chiefly through books that we enjoy intercourse with superior minds, and these invaluable means of communication are in the reach of all. In the best books, great men talk to us, give us their most precious thoughts, and pour their souls into ours.— CHANNING — On Self-Culture.
And as for me, though than I konne but lyte, On bokes for to rede I me delyte, And to hem yeve I feyth and ful credence, And in myn herte have hem in reverence So hertely, that ther is game noon, That fro my bokes maketh me to goon, But yt be seldome on the holy day. Save, certeynly, when that the monthe of May Is comen, and that I here the foules synge, And that the floures gynnen for to sprynge, Farwel my boke, and my devocion.— CHAUCER — Legende of Goode Women. Prologue. L. 29.
Go, litel boke! go litel myn tregedie!— CHAUCER — Canterbury Tales. Troilus and Creseide. Book V. L. 1,800.
O little booke, thou art so unconning, How darst thou put thyself in prees for dred? C.— CHAUCER — The Flower and the Leaf. L. 591.
It is saying less than the truth to affirm that an excellent book (and the remark holds almost equally good of a Raphael as of a Milton) is like a well-chosen and well-tended fruit tree. Its fruits are not of one season only. With the due and natural intervals, we may recur to it year after year, and it will supply the same nourishment and the same gratification, if only we ourselves return to it with the same healthful appetite.— COLERIDGE — Literary Remains.
Prospectus of Lectures. Books should, not Business, entertain the Light; And Sleep, as undisturb'd as Death, the Night.— COWLEY — Of Myself.
Books cannot always please, however good; Minds are not ever craving for their food.— CRABBE — The Borough. Letter XXIV. Schools. L. 402.
The monument of vanished mindes.— SIR WM. DAVENANT — Gondibert. Bk. II. Canto V.
Books should to one of these four ends conduce, For wisdom, piety, delight, or use.— SIR JOHN DENHAM — Of Prudence.
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. He danced along the dingy days, And this bequest of wings Was but a book. What liberty A loosened spirit brings!— EMILY DICKINSON — A Book.
Golden volumes! richest treasures, Objects of delicious pleasures ! You my eyes rejoicing please, You my hands in rapture seize! Brilliant wits and musing sages, Lights who beam'd through many ages! Left to your conscious leaves their story, And dared to trust you with their glory; And now their hope of fame achiev'd, Dear volumes! you have not deceived !— ISAAC DISRAELI — Curiosities of
Literature. Libraries The spectacles of books.— DRYDEN — Essay on Dramatic Poetry.
Books are the best things, well used: abused, among the worst.— EMERSON — The American Scholar.
In every man's memory, with the hours when life culminated are usually associated certain books which met his views.— EMERSON — Letters and Social Aims.
Quotation and Originality. There are many virtues in books, but the essential value is the adding of knowledge to our stock by the record of new facts, and, better, by the record of intuitions which distribute facts, and are the formulas which supersede all histories.— EMERSON — Letters and Social Aims.
Persian Poetry. We prize books, and they prize them most who are themselves wise.— EMERSON — Letters and Social Aims.
Quotation and Originality. Learning hath gained most by those books by which the Printers have lost.— FULLER — The Holy and the Profane
State. Of Books. Some Books are onely cursorily to be tasted of.— FULLER — The Holy and the Profane
State. Of Books. Books are necessary to correct the vices of the polite; but those vices are ever changing, and the antidote should be changed accordingly should still be new.— GOLDSMITH — The Citizen of the World.
Letter LXXII. I armed her against the censures of the world; showed her that books were sweet unreproaching companions to the miserable, and that if they could not bring us to enjoy life, they would at least teach us to endure it. S.— GOLDSMITH — Vicar of Wakefield. Ch. XXII.
In proportion as society refines, new books must ever become more necessary.— GOLDSMITH — The Citizen of the World.
Letter LXXII. I have ever gained the most profit, and the most pleasure also, from the books which have made me think the most: and, when the difficulties have once been overcome, these are the books which have struck the deepest root, not only in my memory and understanding, but likewise in my affections. J. C. and A. W. HARE-Guesses at Truth. P. 458. Thou art a plant sprung up to wither never, But, like a laurell, to grow green forever.— HERRICK — Hesperides. To His Booke.
The foolishest book is a kind of leaky boat on a sea of wisdom; some of the wisdom will get in anyhow.— O. W. HOLMES — The Poet at the
Breakfast-Table. XI. Medicine for the soul. Inscription over the door of the Library at Thebes. Diodorus Siculus. I. 49, 3. A man will turn over half a library to make one book.— SAM'L JOHNSON — Boswell's Life of
Johnson. 1775. Books have always a secret influence on the understanding; we cannot at pleasure obliterate ideas: he that reads books of science, though without any desire fixed of improvement, will grow more knowing; he that entertains himself with moral or religious treatises, will imperceptibly advance in goodness; the ideas which are often offered to the mind, will at last find a lucky moment when it is disposed to receive them.— SAM'L JOHNSON — The Adventurer. No. 137.
Pray thee, take care, that tak'st my book in hand, To read it well; that is to understand.— BEN JONSON — Epigram 1.
When I would know thee *** my thought looks Upon thy well-made choice of friends and books; Then do I love thee, and behold thy ends In making thy friends books, and thy books friends.— BEN JONSON — Epigram 86.
Books which are no books.— CHARLES LAMB — Last Essay of Elia.
Detached Thoughts on Books.
I love to lose myself in other men's minds. When I am not walking, I am reading; I cannot sit and think. Books think for me.— CHARLES LAMB — Last Essays of Elia.
Detached Thoughts on Books and Reading. A book is a friend whose face is constantly changing. If you read it when you are recovering from an illness, and return to it years after, it is changed surely, with the change in yourself.— ANDREW LANG — The Library. Ch. I.
As friends and companions, as teachers and consolers, as recreators and amusers, books are always with us, and always ready to respond to our wants. We can take them with us in our wanderings, or gather them around us at our firesides. In the lonely wilderness, and the crowded city, their spirit will be with us, giving a meaning to the seemingly confused movements of humanity, and peopling the desert with their own bright creations.— LANGFORD — The Praise of Books.
Preliminary Essay. A wise man will select his books, for he would not wish to class them all under the sacred name of friends. Some can be accepted only as acquaintances. The best books of all kinds are taken to the heart, and cherished as his most precious possessions. Others to be chatted with for a time, to spend a few pleasant hours with, and laid aside, but not forgotten.— LANGFORD — The Praise of Books.
Preliminary Essay. No matter what his rank or position may be, the lover of books is the richest and the happiest of the children of men.— LANGFORD — The Praise of Books.
Preliminary Essay. The love of books is a love which requires neither justification, apology, nor defence.— LANGFORD — The Praise of Books.
Preliminary Essay. Books are sepulchres of thought.— LONGFELLOW — The Wind Over the Chimney. St. 8.
Leaving us heirs to amplest heritages Of all the best thoughts of the greatest sages, And giving tongues unto the silent dead!— LONGFELLOW — Sonnet on Mrs. Kemble's
Reading from Shakespeare. The pleasant books, that silently among Our household treasures take familiar places, And are to us as if a living tongue Spake from the printed leaves or pictured faces!— LONGFELLOW — Seaside and Fireside.
Dedication. If I were asked what book is better than a cheap book, I would answer that there is one book better than a cheap book, and that is a book honestly come by.— LOWELL — Before the U. S. Senate
Committee on Patents, Jan. 29, 1886. What a sense of security in an old book which Time has criticised for us!— LOWELL — My Study Windows. Library
of Old Authors. Gentlemen use books as Gentlewomen handle their flowers, who in the morning stick them in their heads, and at night strawe them at their heeles.— LYLY — Euphues. To the Gentlemen
C. Readers. All books grow homilies by time; they are Temples, at once, and Landmarks.— BULWER-LYTTON — The Souls of Books. St. 4. L. 1.
Hark, the world so loud, And they, the movers of the world, so still!— BULWER-LYTTON — The Souls of Books. St. 3. L. 14.
In you are sent The types of Truths whose life is THE TO COME; In you soars up the Adam from the fall; In you the FUTURE as the PAST is given- Ev'n in our death ye bid us hail our birth ;- Unfold these pages, and behold the Heaven, Without one grave-stone left upon the Earth.— BULWER-LYTTON — The Souls of Books. St. 5. L. 11.
Laws die, Books never.— BULWER-LYTTON — Richelieu. Act. I. Sc. 2.
There is no Past, so long as Books shall live!— BULWER-LYTTON — The Souls of Books. St. 4. L. 9.
The Wise (Minstrel or Sage,) out of their books are clay; But in their books, as from their graves they rise. Angels-that, side by side, upon our way, Walk with and warn us!— BULWER-LYTTON — The Souls of Books. St. 3. L. 9.
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.— BULWER-LYTTON — The Souls of Books.. St. 3. L. 22.
That wonderful book, while it obtains admiration from the most fastidious critics, is loved by those who are too simple to admire it.— MACAULAY — On Bunyan's Pilgrim's
Progress. 1831
As you grow ready for it, somewhere or other you will find what is needful for you in a book.— GEORGE MACDONALD — The Marquis of Lossie. Ch. XLII.
A good book is the precious life-blood of a master-spirit imbalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life.— MILTON — Areopagitica.
As good almost kill a man as kill a good book; who kills a man kills a reasonable creature, God's image; but he who destroys a good book kills reason itself, kills the image of God, as it were, in the eye.— MILTON — Areopagitica.
Books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a progeny of life in them to be as active as that soul was whose progeny they are; nay, they do preserve as in a vial the purest efficacy and extraction of that living intellect that bred them.— MILTON — Areopagitica.
Deep vers'd in books, and shallow in himself.— MILTON — Paradise Regained. Bk. IV. L. 327.
For books are as meats and viands are; some of good, some of evil substance.— MILTON — Arcopagitica.
Silent companions of the lonely hour, Friends, who can alter or forsake, Who for inconstant roving have no power, And all neglect, perforce, must calmly take.— Mrs. NORTON — Sonnet. To My Books.
Next o'er his books his eyes began to roll, In pleasing memory of all he stole.— S. POPE — Dunciad. Bk. I. L. 127.
Chiefs of elder Art! Teachers of wisdom! who would once beguile My tedious hours, and lighten every toil, I now resign you.— WILLIAM ROSCOE — Poetical Works.
To my Books on Parting with Them. Within that awful volume lies The mystery of mysteries!— SCOTT — The Monastery. Vol. I. Ch. XII.
And deeper than did ever plummet sound, I'll drown my book. The Tempest. Act. V. Sc. 1. L. 56. I had rather than forty shillings, I had my Book of Songs and Sonnets here.— Shakespeare — The Merry Wives of Windsor. Act I. Sc. 1. L. 204.
Keep thy pen from lenders' books, and defy the foul fiend.— Shakespeare — King Lear. Act III. Sc. 4. L. 100.
Knowing I lov'd my books, he furnished me From mine own library with volumes that I prize above my dukedom.— Shakespeare — The Tempest. Act I. Sc. 2. L. 165.
O, let my books be then the eloquence And dumb presagers of my speaking breast; Who plead for love and look for recompense More than that tongue that more hath more express'd.— Shakespeare — Sonnet XXIII.
O, sir, we quarrel in print, by the book; as you have books for good manners:— Shakespeare — As You Like It. Act V. Sc. 4. L. 94.
Sir, he hath never fed of the dainties that are bred in a book.— Shakespeare — Love's Labour's Lost. Act IV. Sc. 2. L. 24.
That book in many's eyes doth share the glory, That in gold clasps locks in the golden story;— Shakespeare — Romeo and Juliet. Act I. Sc. 3. L. 91.
We turn'd o'er many books together:— Shakespeare — Merchant of Venice. Act IV. Sc. 1. L. 156.
Their books of stature small they take in hand, Which with pellucid horn secured are; To save from finger wet the letters fair.— SHENSTONE — The Schoolmistress. St. 18.
You shall see them on a beautiful quarto page, where a neat rivulet of text shall meander through a meadow of margin.— SHERIDAN — School for Scandal. Act I. Sc. 1.
Some books are drenched sands, On which a great soul's wealth lies all in heaps, Like a wrecked argosy.— ALEXANDER SMITH — A Life Drama. Sc. 2.
Books, the children of the brain.— SWIFT — Tale of a Tub. Sec. I.
Books, like proverbs, receive their chief value from the stamp and esteem of ages through which they have passed.— SIR WM. TEMPLE — Ancient and
Modern Learning. But every page having an ample marge, And every marge enclosing in the midst A square of text that looks a little blot.— TENNYSON — Idylls of the King. Merlin and Vivien. L. 669. L. 669.
Quicquid agunt homines, votum, timor, ira, voluptas, gaudia, discursus, nostri est farrago libelli. The doings of men, their prayers, fear, wrath, pleasure, delights, and recreations, are the subject of this book. S.— JUVENAL — Satiræ. I. I. 85.
Seria cum possim, quod delectantia malim Scribere, tu causa es lector. Thou art the cause, O reader, of my dwelling on lighter topics, when I would rather handle serious ones.— MARTIAL — Epigrammata. V. 16. 1.
Distrahit animum librorum multitudo. A multitude of books distracts the mind.— SENECA — Epistolæ Ad Lucilium. II. 3.