In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear…
““In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern boxes; and though they know us, and have been waiting two, ten, or twenty centuries for us,—some of them,—and are eager to give us a sign and unbosom themselves, it is the law of their limbo that they must not speak until spoken to; and as the enchanter has dressed them, like battalions of infantry, in coat and jacket of one cut, by the thousand and ten thousand, your chance of hitting on the right one is to be computed by the arithmetical rule of Permutation and Combination,—not a choice out of three caskets, but out of half a million caskets, all alike.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Describes books as hidden friends awaiting discovery; finding the right one requires systematic search, not random choice.
In simple terms: Books await discovery.
Key Takeaway
Search methodically for the right book.
Themes
knowledge
literature
discovery
methodology
Mood
thoughtful
curious
Type
academic
literary
When to use this quote
- research
- studying
- library browsing
- academic work
Key Concepts
bibliophilia
systematic exploration
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance systematic search with intuition?
- What strategies help you find relevant resources quickly?
A Different Perspective
Over‑analysis may hinder intuitive connections.