---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even when reading is impossible, the…"
description: "\"“Even when reading is impossible, the presence of books acquired produces such an ecstasy that the buying of more books than one can read is nothing le..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/a-edward-newton-41466_book_even-when-reading-is-impossible-the-pres_2613111.png"
---

#  Even when reading is impossible, the presence of books…

![“Even when reading is impossible, the presence of books acquired produces such an ecstasy that the buying of more books than one can read is nothing less than the soul reaching towards infinity... We cherish books even if unread, their mere presence exudes comfort, their ready access reassurance.” quote by A. Edward Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/a-edward-newton-41466_book_even-when-reading-is-impossible-the-pres_2613111.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/a-edward-newton-41466_book_even-when-reading-is-impossible-the-pres_2613111.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/a-edward-newton-41466_book_even-when-reading-is-impossible-the-pres_2613111.png)

> ““Even when reading is impossible, the presence of books acquired produces such an ecstasy that the buying of more books than one can read is nothing less than the soul reaching towards infinity... We cherish books even if unread, their mere presence exudes comfort, their ready access reassurance.””

[A. Edward Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-edward-newton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Even unread books bring joy, symbolizing an infinite yearning for knowledge and comfort.

**In simple terms:** Books comfort us even unread.

Key Takeaway

Collect books for inspiration.

Themes

literature comfort aspiration

Mood

nostalgic uplifting

Type

literary inspirational

When to use this quote

- home libraries
- gift giving
- reading clubs

Key Concepts

infinite desire ecstatic reading

Questions to Reflect On

- Why cherish unread books?
- How do they inspire?

A Different Perspective

Collecting may become materialism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Books Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books-read/) [Buying books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying-books/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/)

## Related quotes

> [“Who was it who said, "I hold the buying of more books than one can peradventure read, as nothing less than the soul's reaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/who-was-it-who-said-i-hold-the-buying-of-more-books-than-one-can/)

[A. Edward Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-edward-newton/)

> [Even when reading is impossible, the presence of books acquired (by passionate devotion to them) produces such an ecstasy that the buying of more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/even-when-reading-is-impossible-the-presence-of-books-acquired-by/)

[A. Edward Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-edward-newton/)

> [“He had no idea who bought his books, how they acquired the money to buy them. Perhaps they were saints, perhaps they were criminals...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-langer/he-had-no-idea-who-bought-his-books-how-they-acquired-the-money-to/)

[Adam Langer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-langer/)

> [“...I had decided to tidy up a bit. Actually it hadn't really been a choice. The situation had got out of hand, particularly because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianrico-carofiglio/i-had-decided-to-tidy-up-a-bit-actually-it-hadn-t-really-been-a/)

[Gianrico Carofiglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianrico-carofiglio/)

> [So, whenever I'm writing, I'm writing in the presence of all the other books I've read and I think we all are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cronin/so-whenever-i-m-writing-i-m-writing-in-the-presence-of-all-the-other/)

[Justin Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cronin/)

> [“Children learn to read by being in the presence of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/children-learn-to-read-by-being-in-the-presence-of-books/)

[Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/)

> [The buying of more books than one can read is nothing less than the soul reaching toward infinity...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/the-buying-of-more-books-than-one-can-read-is-nothing-less-than-the/)

[A. Edward Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-edward-newton/)

> [“A bookshop is a peaceful sanctuary of silent voices waiting to heard”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mala-naidoo/a-bookshop-is-a-peaceful-sanctuary-of-silent-voices-waiting-to-heard/)

[Mala Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mala-naidoo/)

> [My depth of purse is not so great Nor yet my bibliophilic greed, That merely buying doth elate: The books I buy I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/my-depth-of-purse-is-not-so-great-nor-yet-my-bibliophilic-greed-that/)

[A. Edward Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-edward-newton/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [With my adult books, for the first six weeks or so, it's about 60 percent ebooks in terms of sales. The kids' books, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/with-my-adult-books-for-the-first-six-weeks-or-so-it-s-about-60/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [“She asked her parents to buy him the books she’d been read by her first teachers, Peter Rabbit and Frog and Toad. “What’s the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhumpa-lahiri/she-asked-her-parents-to-buy-him-the-books-she-d-been-read-by-her/)

[Jhumpa Lahiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhumpa-lahiri/)

> [“Buying books in that 20 year period of my life in which the internet pervaded much of what I did, was quick and simple.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-boyle/buying-books-in-that-20-year-period-of-my-life-in-which-the-internet/)

[Mark Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-boyle/)

> [Buying clothes is as good as buying books, but the difference is that clothes make you beautiful form the outside and books make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/buying-clothes-is-as-good-as-buying-books-but-the-difference-is-that/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [“buying books would be a good thing if we also could buy the time to read them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/buying-books-would-be-a-good-thing-if-we-also-could-buy-the-time-to/)

[arthur schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/)

## More by A. Edward Newton

> [If this world affords true happiness, it is to be found in a home where love and confidence increase with the years, where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/if-this-world-affords-true-happiness-it-is-to-be-found-in-a-home/)

[A. Edward Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-edward-newton/)

> [The buying of more books than one can read is nothing less than the soul reaching toward infinity...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/the-buying-of-more-books-than-one-can-read-is-nothing-less-than-the/)

[A. Edward Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-edward-newton/)

> [“Who was it who said, "I hold the buying of more books than one can peradventure read, as nothing less than the soul's reaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/who-was-it-who-said-i-hold-the-buying-of-more-books-than-one-can/)

[A. Edward Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-edward-newton/)

> [My depth of purse is not so great Nor yet my bibliophilic greed, That merely buying doth elate: The books I buy I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/my-depth-of-purse-is-not-so-great-nor-yet-my-bibliophilic-greed-that/)

[A. Edward Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-edward-newton/)

> [Gilbert White discovered the formula for complete happiness, but he died before making the announcement, leaving it for me to do so. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/gilbert-white-discovered-the-formula-for-complete-happiness-but-he/)

[A. Edward Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-edward-newton/)

> [As life tends to become more and more distracting, let us firmly hold on to books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/as-life-tends-to-become-more-and-more-distracting-let-us-firmly-hold/)

[A. Edward Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-edward-newton/)

> [Even when reading is impossible, the presence of books acquired (by passionate devotion to them) produces such an ecstasy that the buying of more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/even-when-reading-is-impossible-the-presence-of-books-acquired-by/)

[A. Edward Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-edward-newton/)

> [“There may be little room for the display of this supreme qualification in the retail book business, but there is room for some. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/there-may-be-little-room-for-the-display-of-this-supreme/)

[A. Edward Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-edward-newton/)

> [The selection of a book-plate is such a serious matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/the-selection-of-a-book-plate-is-such-a-serious-matter/)

[A. Edward Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-edward-newton/)

[Explore all 10 A. Edward Newton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-edward-newton/)

## More Book quotes

> [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/)

[Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/)

[Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/)

> [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/)

[Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/)

> [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/)

[Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/)

> [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/)

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

> [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/)

[Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/)

> [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/)

[Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/)

> [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/)

[Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/)

> [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/)

[Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/)

> [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/)

[Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/)

[Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Even when reading is impossible, the presence of books acquired produces such an ecstasy that the buying of more books than one can read is nothing less than the soul reaching towards infinity... We cherish books even if unread, their mere presence exudes comfort, their ready access reassurance.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "A. Edward Newton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/even-when-reading-is-impossible-the-presence-of-books-acquired/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Book"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/even-when-reading-is-impossible-the-presence-of-books-acquired/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/a-edward-newton-41466_book_even-when-reading-is-impossible-the-pres_2613111.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/a-edward-newton-41466_book_even-when-reading-is-impossible-the-pres_2613111.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/944/a-edward-newton-41466_book_even-when-reading-is-impossible-the-pres_2613111.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Even when reading is impossible, the presence of books acquired produces such an ecstasy that the buying of…” — A. Edward Newton",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "A. Edward Newton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-edward-newton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Even when reading is impossible, the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/even-when-reading-is-impossible-the-presence-of-books-acquired/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-edward-newton/even-when-reading-is-impossible-the-presence-of-books-acquired/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
