Christie,” said Mr. Keith, “come here and tell us what you…
““Christie,” said Mr. Keith, “come here and tell us what you would do if you were told to choose one book out of all there were in the world, because the rest were to be burned.” “Why!” said Christie. “How dreadful! Oh, I would take the Bible, of course.” “Why ‘of course?’” “Oh, because it is the only book that shows us the way to Heaven; and we could get along without knowing anything else, if we knew what was in the Bible; and if we knew all that there was in all the other books, and had no Bible, in a little bit of a while what good would it do us?” “Sure enough; but do you believe these boys don’t think so!” Christie turned on them two troubled eyes. Wells laughed, but Karl said stoutly, “Why, we didn’t say any such thing!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Christie chooses the Bible as the only essential book, implying it contains all needed guidance for salvation and life.
In simple terms: Christie believes the Bible alone suffices for guidance.
Prioritize core spiritual texts.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- religious study
- personal decision making
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you keep if you could only save one book?
- Is any single text truly sufficient?
The Bible may not address all practical needs.