libraries quotes

‚En tantas de la muerte librer|as, los cuerpos de esos huesos, mal seguro, estudia, Julio; y en su letra advierte, que son abecedarios de la muerte! Julio, in those libraries of death study the bodies of those bonesan assured evil; and learn from those characters that they form the abecedary of death!

- Hernando Dom|  nguez Camargo
  San Ignacio de Loyola, Poema heroyco ('Heroic Poem of Saint Ignatius of Loyola'), bk.4, canto 6.

Libraries are reservoirs of strength, grace and wit, reminders of order, calm and continuity, lakes of mental energy, neither warm nor cold, light nor dark.

- Germaine Greer
  In the NewYork Times, 24 Mar.

When we run over libraries, persuaded of these principles, what havoc must we make? If we take in our hand any volume; of divinity or school metaphysics, for instance; let us ask, Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity or number? No. Does it contain any experimental reasoning concerning matter of fact or existence? No.Commit itthen tothe flames: for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.

- David Hume
  An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, section12, pt.3.

To a historian libraries are food, shelter, and even muse.

- BarbaraW(ertheim) Tuchman
Practising History,'The Houses of Research'.

Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing, Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms, Strong and content I travel the open road.

-Walt(er) Whitman
  Leaves of Grass,'Song of the Open Road', section1.