--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God hath given to mankind a common…" description: "\"God hath given to mankind a common library, His creatures; to every man a proper book, himself being an abridgment of all others. If thou read with und..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/francis-quarles-1740_book_god-hath-given-to-mankind-a-common-libra_1556037.jpg" --- # God hath given to mankind a common library, His creatures… ![“God hath given to mankind a common library, His creatures; to every man a proper book, himself being an abridgment of all others. If thou read with understanding, it will make thee a great master of philosophy, and a true servant of the divine Author: if thou but barely read, it will make thee…” quote by Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/francis-quarles-1740_book_god-hath-given-to-mankind-a-common-libra_1556037.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/francis-quarles-1740_book_god-hath-given-to-mankind-a-common-libra_1556037.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b44/francis-quarles-1740_book_god-hath-given-to-mankind-a-common-libra_1556037.jpg) > “God hath given to mankind a common library, His creatures; to every man a proper book, himself being an abridgment of all others. If thou read with understanding, it will make thee a great master of philosophy, and a true servant of the divine Author: if thou but barely read, it will make thee thine own wise man and the Author's fool.” [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading with understanding transforms a person into a master of philosophy and a servant of the divine; shallow reading yields folly. **In simple terms:** Deep reading makes you wise; skimming leads to foolishness. Key Takeaway Read deeply, seek comprehension. Themes knowledge philosophy spirituality Mood contemplative serene Type educational spiritual When to use this quote - academic study - personal reflection - spiritual practice Key Concepts interpretation self‑knowledge humility Questions to Reflect On - What texts deserve your full attention? - How can you balance depth with daily demands? A Different Perspective Time constraints may limit deep reading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [My plan is to work on a master's in philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-trotter/my-plan-is-to-work-on-a-master-s-in-philosophy/) [Charlie Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-trotter/) > [“The "Nature Psalms" ... 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Both read the Bible day and night, but thou read'st…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-vision-of-christ-that-thou-dost-see-is-my-vision-s-greatest-enemy-2/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Both read the Bible day and night, but thou read black where I read white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/both-read-the-bible-day-and-night-but-thou-read-black-where-i-read/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“Thy profit shall be little in any book, unless thou read alone, and unless thou read all, and record after, as the Bereans did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-smith/thy-profit-shall-be-little-in-any-book-unless-thou-read-alone-and/) Henry Smith > [“Henry,' at last said one, again dipping the spoon into the flaming spirit, 'hast thou read Hoffman?' 'I should think so,' said Henry. 'What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hain-friswell/henry-at-last-said-one-again-dipping-the-spoon-into-the-flaming/) Hain Friswell > [Divine symbols which have been given to mankind from time to time speak to that forum of truth which is within our hearts, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-heindel/divine-symbols-which-have-been-given-to-mankind-from-time-to-time/) [Max Heindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-heindel/) > [To modify the conditions of the Earth's movement is beyond the powers of man. It is not given to mankind to change the order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/to-modify-the-conditions-of-the-earth-s-movement-is-beyond-the-powers/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Nothing is given to mankind and what little men can conquer must be paid for with unjust death. But man's grandeur lies elsewhere, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/nothing-is-given-to-mankind-and-what-little-men-can-conquer-must-be/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Science had given mankind many gifts, and she valued it. But the one important thing it had taken away was the value of subjective,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/science-had-given-mankind-many-gifts-and-she-valued-it-but-the-one/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [In the last fifty years science has advanced more than in the 2,000 previous years and given mankind greater powers over the forces of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyd-orr/in-the-last-fifty-years-science-has-advanced-more-than-in-the-2-000/) [John Boyd Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyd-orr/) > [“The multitude of men and women choose the less adventurous way of the comparatively unconscious civic and tribal routines. But these seekers, too, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-multitude-of-men-and-women-choose-the-less-adventurous-way-of-the/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The earth was given to mankind to support the greatest number of which it is capable, and no tribe or people have a right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/the-earth-was-given-to-mankind-to-support-the-greatest-number-of/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) ## More by Francis Quarles > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey in her mouth, gall in her heart, and a sting in her tail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/luxury-is-an-enticing-pleasure-a-bastard-mirth-which-hath-honey-in/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Deliberate long before thou consecrate a friend, and when thy impartial justice concludes him worthy of thy bosom, receive him joyfully, and entertain him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/deliberate-long-before-thou-consecrate-a-friend-and-when-thy/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [What treasures here do Mammon's sons behold! Yet know that all that which glitters is not gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/what-treasures-here-do-mammon-s-sons-behold-yet-know-that-all-that/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Meditation is the life of the soul: Action, the soul of meditation; and honor the reward of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/meditation-is-the-life-of-the-soul-action-the-soul-of-meditation-and/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The world is deceitful; her end is doubtful, her conclusion is horrible, her judge terrible, and her judgment is intolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-is-deceitful-her-end-is-doubtful-her-conclusion-is-horrible/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [I wish thee as much pleasure in the reading, as I had in the writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/i-wish-thee-as-much-pleasure-in-the-reading-as-i-had-in-the-writing/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The suburbs of folly is vain mirth, and profuseness of laughter is the city of fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-suburbs-of-folly-is-vain-mirth-and-profuseness-of-laughter-is-the/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The fountain of beauty is the heart and every generous thought illustrates the walls of your chamber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-fountain-of-beauty-is-the-heart-and-every-generous-thought/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The strong desires of man's insatiate breast may stand possess'd Of all that earth can give; but earth can give no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-strong-desires-of-man-s-insatiate-breast-may-stand-possess-d-of/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Knowledge descries; wisdom applies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/knowledge-descries-wisdom-applies/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [In all thy actions think God sees thee; and in all His actions labor to see Him; that will make thee fear Him; this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/in-all-thy-actions-think-god-sees-thee-and-in-all-his-actions-labor/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Rather do what is nothing to the purpose than be idle; that the devil may find thee doing. 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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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