Books Quote by Alberto Manguel
““There is nothing,” Naudé wrote, “that renders a Library more recommendable, than when every man finds in it that which he is looking for and cannot find anywhere else; therefore the perfect motto is, that there exists no book, however bad or badly reviewed, that may not be sought after in some future time by a certain reader.” These remarks demand from us an impossibility, since every library is, by needs, an incomplete creation, a work-in-progress, and every empty shelf announces the books to come.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Library at Night, by Alberto Manguel, 2016
A library’s value lies in its ability to hold unique, sought‑after knowledge, even if imperfect.
In simple terms: Libraries hold unique, irreplaceable knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Seek out and cherish rare, valuable books.
Themes
knowledge
search
uniqueness
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research
- personal reading
- library curation
Key Concepts
bibliophilia
information theory
cultural preservation
Questions to Reflect On
- What book changed your life unexpectedly?
- How do we preserve obscure works?
A Different Perspective
Even flawed books can be vital to future readers.
