To be a book-collector is to combine the worst characteristics of a dope fiend with those of a miser. — Robertson Davies Copy Share Image
Book lovers are thought by unbookish people to be gentle and unworldly, and perhaps a few of them are so. But there… — Robertson Davies Copy Share Image
Real bibliophiles do not put their books on shelves for people to look at or handle. They have no desire to show… — Robertson Davies Copy Share Image
“...the irrational will have its say, perhaps because 'irrational' is the wrong word for it.” — Robertson Davies Copy Share
If you're going to do something that looks evil, don't smear it with icing and pretend it's good; just bloody well do it and… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
Extraordinary people survive under the most terrible circumstances and they become more extraordinary because of it. — Robertson Davies Copy Share
Although there may be nothing new under the sun, what is old is new to us and so rich and astonishing that we never… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
If I had to describe my remarks this evening frankly as if I were in police court and on oath, so to speak I… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
The people of the United States, perhaps more than any other nation in history, love to abase themselves and proclaim their unworthiness, and seem… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
I don't suppose God laughs at the people who think He doesn't exist. He's above jokes. But the devil isn't. That's one of his… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
Inactivity and deprivation of all accustomed stimulus is not rest; it is a preparation for the tomb — Robertson Davies Copy Share
“My lifelong involvement with Mrs Dempster began at 5:58 o'clock p.m. on 27 December 1908, at which time I was ten years and seven months old.” — Robertson Davies Copy Share
In a government like ours, the Crown is the abiding and unshakable element in government; politicians may come and go, but the Crown remains… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
There can be no doubt that Samuel Marchbanks is one of the choice and master spirits of this age. If there were such a… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
Nobody who looks as though he enjoyed life is ever called distinguished, though he is a man in a million. — Robertson Davies Copy Share
They're all so highly educated, you know. Education is a great shield against experience. It offers so much, ready-made and all from the best… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
Students today are a pretty solemn lot. One of the really notable achievements of the twentieth century has been to make the young old… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
