Paradox Quote by Alberto Manguel
““This is the paradox presented by every general library: that if, to a lesser or greater extent, it intends to accumulate and preserve as comprehensive as possible a record of the world, then ultimately its task must be redundant, since it can only be satisfied when the library's borders coincide with those of the world itself.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Library at Night by Alberto Manguel, 2016
Highlights the paradox that a library aims to contain all knowledge, yet can never be complete because the world is infinite.
In simple terms: Libraries can’t hold everything because the world is endless.
Accept the limits of knowledge and keep learning.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- research
- education
- digital archiving
- curation
- policy making
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can libraries stay relevant in the digital age?
- What responsibilities do they have to represent diverse voices?
Even with digital expansion, gaps remain and bias persists.