--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some men,\" Flamel irresistibly added…" description: "\"“Some men,\" Flamel irresistibly added, \"think of books merely as tools, others as tooling. I'm between the two; there are days when I use them as scene..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e0/edith-wharton-512_books_some-men-flamel-irresistibly-added-think_2283230.png" --- # Some men," Flamel irresistibly added, "think of books… ![“Some men," Flamel irresistibly added, "think of books merely as tools, others as tooling. I'm between the two; there are days when I use them as scenery, other days when I want them as society; so that, as you see, my library represents a makeshift compromise between looks and brains, and the…” quote by Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e0/edith-wharton-512_books_some-men-flamel-irresistibly-added-think_2283230.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e0/edith-wharton-512_books_some-men-flamel-irresistibly-added-think_2283230.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e0/edith-wharton-512_books_some-men-flamel-irresistibly-added-think_2283230.png) > ““Some men," Flamel irresistibly added, "think of books merely as tools, others as tooling. I'm between the two; there are days when I use them as scenery, other days when I want them as society; so that, as you see, my library represents a makeshift compromise between looks and brains, and the collectors look down on me almost as much as the students.”” [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Books can be seen as functional tools, decorative objects, or social symbols, and the speaker balances these roles in his library. **In simple terms:** Books serve many purposes, from utility to status. Key Takeaway Recognize and balance how you use books. Themes literature identity status balance Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - personal study - library design - academic research - social gatherings Key Concepts symbolism social perception personal space Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide a book’s role for you? - Do you prioritize function over form? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on appearance may undermine genuine learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Books Merely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books-merely-1770568/) [Collectors Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectors-look-5336867/) [Flamel Irresistibly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flamel-irresistibly-5336868/) [Library Represents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library-represents-2952527/) [Think Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-books/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [People who prefer e-books...think that books merely take up space. 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Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [A library represents the mind of its collector, fancies and foibles, strengths and weaknesses, prejudices and preferences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/a-library-represents-the-mind-of-its-collector-fancies-and-foibles/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [Books ... were merely nodes in a near-infinite matrix of information that exists in four dimensions, evolving toward the idea of the concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/books-were-merely-nodes-in-a-near-infinite-matrix-of-information-that/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“as I reflected upon the matter, I discovered that these authors, in their books, were, after all merely making use of their own experiences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/as-i-reflected-upon-the-matter-i-discovered-that-these-authors-in/) [Booker T. 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