Acquaintance Quote by Clifton Fadiman
![“[Books] will visit you at your convenience, whether you are lonesome or not, on rainy days or fair. They propose themselves as either transient acquaintances or permanent friends. They will stay as long as you like, departing or returning as you wish. Their friendship entails no obligation. Best…” quote by Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08b/clifton-fadiman-11053_acquaintance_books-will-visit-you-at-your-convenience_75546.jpg)
“[Books] will visit you at your convenience, whether you are lonesome or not, on rainy days or fair. They propose themselves as either transient acquaintances or permanent friends. They will stay as long as you like, departing or returning as you wish. Their friendship entails no obligation. Best of all, and not always true of our merely human friends, they have Cleopatra's infinite variety.”
About This Quote
Books offer flexible companionship, appearing when needed and disappearing without demanding loyalty, providing endless perspectives unlike human relationships.
In simple terms: Books are adaptable, obligation‑free companions.
Key Takeaway
They supply limitless variety and comfort.
Themes
companionship
flexibility
escapism
knowledge
variety
Mood
reflective
comforting
curious
Type
aphorism
observation
metaphor
When to use this quote
- lonely evenings
- rainy afternoons
- traveling
- studying
- stress relief
Key Concepts
reading
literature
solitude
imagination
Practical Applications
- Therapeutic reading
- Educational enrichment
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a book's presence differ from a friend's?
- What does 'infinite variety' mean in reading?
![“Seriously, I do not know what to say of this book [ Absalom, Absalom!] except that it seem to point to the final blowup of what was once a remarkable, if minor, talent… this is a penny dreadful tricked up in fancy language and given a specious depth by the expert manipulation of a series of…” quote by Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cc1/clifton-fadiman-11053_book_seriously-i-do-not-know-what-to-say-of-t_494033.jpg)
![“[On an anarchist acquaintance:] Everything in appearance the most alarmist aunt could wish.” quote by Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ae9/sylvia-townsend-warner-7063_acquaintance_on-an-anarchist-acquaintance-everything_72515.jpg)
