--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: More is got from one book on which the…" description: "\"More is got from one book on which the thought settles for a definite end in knowledge, than from libraries skimmed over by a wandering eye.\" — Edward ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron_book_more-is-got-from-one-book-on-which-the-t_2145217.jpg" --- # More is got from one book on which the thought settles for… ![“More is got from one book on which the thought settles for a definite end in knowledge, than from libraries skimmed over by a wandering eye.” quote by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron_book_more-is-got-from-one-book-on-which-the-t_2145217.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron_book_more-is-got-from-one-book-on-which-the-t_2145217.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron_book_more-is-got-from-one-book-on-which-the-t_2145217.jpg) > “More is got from one book on which the thought settles for a definite end in knowledge, than from libraries skimmed over by a wandering eye.” [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A single focused book yields deeper knowledge than superficially browsing many. **In simple terms:** Deep focus beats shallow breadth. Key Takeaway Read one book deeply. Themes learning focus depth knowledge Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - academic study - self‑education - research projects Key Concepts concentration critical reading intellectual depth Questions to Reflect On - What book deserves your full attention? - How can you avoid superficial learning? A Different Perspective Time constraints may limit deep reading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book lover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-lover/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [Lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovers/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [One thought settles a life, an immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-james-bailey/one-thought-settles-a-life-an-immortality/) [Philip James Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-james-bailey/) > [The end of being is to know; and if you say, the end of knowledge is action,-why, yes, but the end of that action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-end-of-being-is-to-know-and-if-you-say-the-end-of-knowledge-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The end of all knowledge should be in virtuous action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/the-end-of-all-knowledge-should-be-in-virtuous-action/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [Ignorance has no beginning, but it has an end. There is a beginning but no end to knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/ignorance-has-no-beginning-but-it-has-an-end-there-is-a-beginning-but/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [The ultimate end...is not knowledge, but action. To be half right on time may be more important than to obtain the whole truth too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-ultimate-end-is-not-knowledge-but-action-to-be-half-right-on-time/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The end of all knowledge should be service to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/the-end-of-all-knowledge-should-be-service-to-others/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [The end of knowledge is power ... the scope of all speculation is the performing of some action or thing to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/the-end-of-knowledge-is-power-the-scope-of-all-speculation-is-the/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [But the greatest error of all the rest is the mistaking or misplacing of the last or farthest end of knowledge: for men have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/but-the-greatest-error-of-all-the-rest-is-the-mistaking-or-misplacing/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The end of all knowledge must be the building up of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/the-end-of-all-knowledge-must-be-the-building-up-of-character/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [“You were not there for the beginning. You will not be there for the end. Your knowledge of what is going on can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/you-were-not-there-for-the-beginning-you-will-not-be-there-for-the/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [The end of knowledge is wisdom The end of culture is perfection The end of wisdom is freedom The end of education is character.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sai-baba/the-end-of-knowledge-is-wisdom-the-end-of-culture-is-perfection-the/) [Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sai-baba/) > [The height of all philosophy is to know thyself; and the end of this knowledge is to know God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-height-of-all-philosophy-is-to-know-thyself-and-the-end-of-this/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [“When I was a child, I never thought to myself, someday I want to be an artist or I want to write a book.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-was-a-child-i-never-thought-to-myself-someday-i-want-to-be-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Solara: I didn't think you'd ever give up the book, I thought it was too important to you Eli: It was, I was carrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/book-of-eli-movie/solara-i-didn-t-think-you-d-ever-give-up-the-book-i-thought-it-was/) Book of Eli Movie > [“of having nothing to do. Once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-kretschmer/of-having-nothing-to-do-once-or-twice-she-had-peeped-into-the-book/) Dan Kretschmer ## More by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton > [Only by the candle, held in the skeleton hand of Poverty, can man read his own dark heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/only-by-the-candle-held-in-the-skeleton-hand-of-poverty-can-man-read/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Law dies, books never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/law-dies-books-never/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [It is a very high mind to which gratitude is not a painful sensation. If you wish to please, you will find it wiser…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/it-is-a-very-high-mind-to-which-gratitude-is-not-a-painful-sensation/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [The same refinement which brings us new pleasures exposes us to new pains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/the-same-refinement-which-brings-us-new-pleasures-exposes-us-to-new/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [In science, address the few, in literature the many. In science, the few must dictate opinion to the many; in literature, the many, sooner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/in-science-address-the-few-in-literature-the-many-in-science-the-few/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Earnest men never think in vain, though their thoughts may be errors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/earnest-men-never-think-in-vain-though-their-thoughts-may-be-errors/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Philosophers have done wisely when they have told us to cultivate our reason rather than our feelings, for reason reconciles us to the daily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/philosophers-have-done-wisely-when-they-have-told-us-to-cultivate-our/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [He that fancies himself very enlightened, because he sees the deficiencies of others, may be very ignorant, because he has not studied his own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/he-that-fancies-himself-very-enlightened-because-he-sees-the/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [I did not fall into love - I rose into love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/i-did-not-fall-into-love-i-rose-into-love/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Nothing ages like laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/nothing-ages-like-laziness/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Each man forms his duty according to his predominant characteristic; the stern require an avenging judge; the gentle, a forgiving father. Just so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/each-man-forms-his-duty-according-to-his-predominant-characteristic/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [What's money without happiness?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/what-s-money-without-happiness/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [The more a man desirous to pass at a value above his worth can contrast, by dignified silence, the garrulity of trivial minds, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/the-more-a-man-desirous-to-pass-at-a-value-above-his-worth-can/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [He who esteems trifles for themselves is a trifler; he who esteems them for the conclusions to be drawn from them, or the advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/he-who-esteems-trifles-for-themselves-is-a-trifler-he-who-esteems/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [The strong and virtuous admit no destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/the-strong-and-virtuous-admit-no-destiny/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) [Explore all 337 Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "More is got from one book on which the thought settles for a definite end in knowledge, than from libraries skimmed over by a wandering eye.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/more-is-got-from-one-book-on-which-the-thought-settles-for-a-definite/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Book" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/more-is-got-from-one-book-on-which-the-thought-settles-for-a-definite/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron_book_more-is-got-from-one-book-on-which-the-t_2145217.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron_book_more-is-got-from-one-book-on-which-the-t_2145217.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron_book_more-is-got-from-one-book-on-which-the-t_2145217.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“More is got from one book on which the thought settles for a definite end in knowledge, than from libraries…” — Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "More is got from one book...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/more-is-got-from-one-book-on-which-the-thought-settles-for-a-definite/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/more-is-got-from-one-book-on-which-the-thought-settles-for-a-definite/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```