--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not so, however, with books, for books…" description: "\"Not so, however, with books, for books cannot change. A thousand years hence they are what you find them to-day, speaking the same words, holding forth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/eugene-field-20734_book_not-so-however-with-books-for-books-cann_1324334.jpg" --- # Not so, however, with books, for books cannot change. A… ![“Not so, however, with books, for books cannot change. A thousand years hence they are what you find them to-day, speaking the same words, holding forth the same cheer, the same promise, the same comfort; always constant, laughing with those who laugh and weeping with those who weep.” quote by Eugene Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/eugene-field-20734_book_not-so-however-with-books-for-books-cann_1324334.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/eugene-field-20734_book_not-so-however-with-books-for-books-cann_1324334.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/eugene-field-20734_book_not-so-however-with-books-for-books-cann_1324334.jpg) > “Not so, however, with books, for books cannot change. A thousand years hence they are what you find them to-day, speaking the same words, holding forth the same cheer, the same promise, the same comfort; always constant, laughing with those who laugh and weeping with those who weep.” [Eugene Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-field/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Books remain unchanged over centuries, offering the same words, comfort, and emotions to each generation. **In simple terms:** Books stay the same, giving constant comfort. Key Takeaway Seek timeless wisdom in literature. Themes literature comfort timelessness Mood reflective nostalgic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Reading for solace - studying classics - teaching literature - preserving heritage - intergenerational dialogue Key Concepts Continuity human experience emotional resonance Questions to Reflect On - How do you find relevance in old texts? - What comforts do you seek from books? A Different Perspective Modern media may offer more dynamic perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Books Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books-books-358181/) [Books Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books-change-608592/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Cheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheer/) [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Constant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constant/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand/) [Thousand years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-years/) [Weeping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weeping/) [Words Holding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-holding-4422168/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Books ARE a form of political action. Books are knowledge. Books are reflection. Books change your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/books-are-a-form-of-political-action-books-are-knowledge-books-are/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Books change us. Books save us. I know this because it happened to me. Books saved me. 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S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) > [Childrens books change lives. Stories pour into the hearts of children and help make them what they become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-yolen/childrens-books-change-lives-stories-pour-into-the-hearts-of-children/) [Jane Yolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-yolen/) > [Early on I came to realize something, and it came from the mail I received from kids. 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Stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-james/books-can-change-minds-and-change-worlds-open-doors-and-open-minds/) [Anna James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-james/) > [I've seen firsthand how books can change people's lives. It happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-ve-seen-firsthand-how-books-can-change-people-s-lives-it-happened/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [Books can change your life. Some of the most influential people in our lives are characters we meet in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/books-can-change-your-life-some-of-the-most-influential-people-in-our/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [There are books that change the way you feel and see; this is one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-nicole-leblanc/there-are-books-that-change-the-way-you-feel-and-see-this-is-one-of/) [Adrian Nicole LeBlanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-nicole-leblanc/) > [“ Books can change one's life.. as "tools" for the tradesmen, motivate the mind to achieve the impossible, mould one's Character, personality. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henries-charriere/books-can-change-one-s-life-as-tools-for-the-tradesmen-motivate-the/) [Henries Charriere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henries-charriere/) ## More by Eugene Field > [A mighty good sausage stuffer was spoiled when the man became a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-field/a-mighty-good-sausage-stuffer-was-spoiled-when-the-man-became-a-poet/) [Eugene Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-field/) > [No book can be appreciated until it has been slept with and dreamed over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-field/no-book-can-be-appreciated-until-it-has-been-slept-with-and-dreamed/) [Eugene Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-field/) > [I'd like a stocking made for a giant, And a meeting house full of toys, Then I'd go out in a happy hunt For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-field/i-d-like-a-stocking-made-for-a-giant-and-a-meeting-house-full-of-toys/) [Eugene Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-field/) > [Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night Sailed off in a wooden shoe, - Sailed on a river of crystal light Into a sea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-field/wynken-blynken-and-nod-one-night-sailed-off-in-a-wooden-shoe-sailed/) [Eugene Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-field/) > [All good and true book-lovers practice the pleasing and improving avocation of reading in bed ... 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Human thought is like a monstrous pendulum; it keeps swinging from one extreme to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-field/ideas-came-with-explosive-immediacy-like-an-instant-birth-human/) [Eugene Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-field/) > [Let my temptation be a book, which I shall purchase, hold and keep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-field/let-my-temptation-be-a-book-which-i-shall-purchase-hold-and-keep/) [Eugene Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-field/) > [The best of all physiciansIs apple pie and cheese!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-field/the-best-of-all-physiciansis-apple-pie-and-cheese/) [Eugene Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-field/) > [But I, when I undress me Each night, upon my knees Will ask the Lord to bless me With apple-pie and cheese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-field/but-i-when-i-undress-me-each-night-upon-my-knees-will-ask-the-lord-to/) [Eugene Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-field/) > [Used to think that luck wuz luck and nuthin' else but luck-- It made no diff'rence how or when or where or why it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-field/used-to-think-that-luck-wuz-luck-and-nuthin-else-but-luck-it-made-no/) [Eugene Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-field/) > [When I demanded of my friend what viands he preferred, He quoth: "A large cold bottle, and a small hot bird!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-field/when-i-demanded-of-my-friend-what-viands-he-preferred-he-quoth-a/) [Eugene Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-field/) > [But he who truly loves books loves all books alike, and not only this, but it grieves him that all other men do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-field/but-he-who-truly-loves-books-loves-all-books-alike-and-not-only-this/) [Eugene Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-field/) [Explore all 30 Eugene Field quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-field/) ## 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. 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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. 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