Books Quote by Cornelia Funke
““For him that stealeth, or borroweth and returneth not, this book from its owner, let it change into a serpent in his hand and rend him. Let him be struck with palsy, and all his members blasted. Let him languish in pain, crying aloud for mercy, and let there be no surcease to this agony till he sing in dissolution. Let bookworms gnaw his entrails … and when at last he goeth to his last punishment, let the flames of hell consume him for ever. Curse on book thieves, from the monastery of San Pedro, Barcelona, Spain T””
About This Quote
Source Text: Curse from San Pedro Monastery, Barcelona, Spain (historical inscription)
A vivid, graphic condemnation of stealing books, invoking divine and physical punishment to deter theft
In simple terms: Stealing books brings severe, supernatural retribution
Key Takeaway
Respect books, avoid theft
Themes
morality
punishment
literature
religion
Mood
ominous
reflective
Type
cautionary
historical
literary
When to use this quote
- library work
- bookstore
- academic research
- personal reading
- digital piracy
Key Concepts
Divine justice
retributive ethics
cultural taboo
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this curse reveal about historical attitudes toward knowledge?
- How might modern societies discourage theft without invoking supernatural threats?
A Different Perspective
Such extreme curses may be symbolic rather than literal, limiting practical deterrence
![“There was another reason [she] took her books whenever they went away. They were her home when she was somewhere strange. They were familiar voices, friends that never quarreled with her, clever, powerful friends -- daring and knowledgeable, tried and tested adventurers who had traveled far and…” quote by Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/639/cornelia-funke-908_adventurer_there-was-another-reason-she-took-her-bo_3074.jpg)
