Book Quote by Anne Fadiman
“In my view, nineteen pounds of old books are at least nineteen times as delicious as one pound of fresh caviar.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Library of Babel, 2012
She playfully argues that old books offer richer, more satisfying experiences than luxurious delicacies.
In simple terms: Old books are more delicious than caviar.
Key Takeaway
Value the depth of literature over fleeting luxury.
Themes
literature
taste
cultural value
nostalgia
Mood
playful
contemplative
Type
literary
humorous
When to use this quote
- reading clubs
- gift giving
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
symbolic consumption
comparative metaphor
intellectual appetite
Questions to Reflect On
- What literary work has felt more rewarding than material indulgence?
- How do you savor knowledge?
A Different Perspective
The comparison may be hyperbolic and not universally relatable.
![“[on whether he harbored any resentment at his forced retirement from the stage after he was fired by Britain's National Theater] I should be soaring away with my head tilted slightly toward the gods, feeding on the caviar of Shakespeare... An actor must act.” quote by Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/756/laurence-olivier-11163_actors_on-whether-he-harbored-any-resentment-at_368719.jpg)
![“I guess, as they say, I never acquired a taste for [caviar].” quote by Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/274/carrie-fisher-927_acquired-taste_i-guess-as-they-say-i-never-acquired-a-t_296434.jpg)
![“[Her] idea of a fair trade--her lentils for your caviar.” quote by Maya Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6a7/maya-corrigan-94832_caviar_her-idea-of-a-fair-trade-her-lentils-for_275737.jpg)
