On Books, #54
Books have the same enemies as people: fire, humidity, animals, weather, and their own content.
– Paul Valery
On Books, #53
I pray that no child of mine would ever descend into such a place as a library. They are indeed most dangerous places and unfortunate is she or he who is lured into such a hellhole of enjoyment, stimulus, facts, passion and fun.
– Willy Russell
On Books, #52
Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life. Libraries change lives for the better.
– Sidney Sheldon
On Books, #51
1887 Map of Wichita (Kansas Historical Society)
Cultural development is considered by most twentieth-century urban areas a fairly important function of local government. In Wichita in the 1870s, however, it was definitely a frill. No one seriously suggested anything like a city-supported art museum, and even the public support of a library was controversial. In 1878, the state legislature of Kansas authorized Wichita to donate two thousand dollars to aid in building a library, but the city council objected to becoming involved. Instead the library was run by a private library association, which had a bookcase built in 1878 to house its one-thousand volumes. For a time the city provided housing for the library, but the association soon had to rent quarters. As a result, the Library’s funds were limited, and it was open only on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons.
– H. Craig Miner, Wichita: The Early Years, 1865-80
On Books, #49
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.
– Francis Bacon
On Books, #48
Without books, God is silent, justice dormant, natural science at a stand, philosophy lame, letters dumb, and all things involved in darkness.
– Thomas V. Bartholin
On Books, #47
After all manner of professors have done their best for us, the place we are to get knowledge is in books.
– Thomas Carlyle
Presidential Books
The Black Book Club has an interesting infographic on books published by future, present and past presidents, and some recent presidential candidates. The all-time champ, of course: Theodore Roosevelt. Check it out here:
President’s and Candidate’s Books By the Numbers
