--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To know a man's library is, in some…" description: "\"To know a man's library is, in some measure, to know a man's mind.\" — Geraldine Brooks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/619/geraldine-brooks-1324_attitude_to-know-a-man-s-library-is-in-some-measu_2591610.png" --- # To know a man's library is, in some measure, to know a… ![“To know a man's library is, in some measure, to know a man's mind.” quote by Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/619/geraldine-brooks-1324_attitude_to-know-a-man-s-library-is-in-some-measu_2591610.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/619/geraldine-brooks-1324_attitude_to-know-a-man-s-library-is-in-some-measu_2591610.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/619/geraldine-brooks-1324_attitude_to-know-a-man-s-library-is-in-some-measu_2591610.png) > “To know a man's library is, in some measure, to know a man's mind.” [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person's library reflects their mind to some extent. **In simple terms:** Books reveal aspects of a person's thinking. Key Takeaway Explore others' reading lists to understand them. Themes literature identity intellect Mood curious analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - friendship - networking - recruitment Key Concepts bibliometrics cognitive profiling Questions to Reflect On - What does your reading list say about you? - Do you judge others by their books? A Different Perspective People may have hidden interests not shown by books. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Know Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-man/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [Library Measure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library-measure-1867504/) [Man Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-library-1867502/) [Man Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-mind/) [Measure Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measure-know-627791/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“For to know a man's library is, in some measure, to know his mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/for-to-know-a-man-s-library-is-in-some-measure-to-know-his-mind/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“What a school thinks about its library is a measure of what it feels about education.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-howe/what-a-school-thinks-about-its-library-is-a-measure-of-what-it-feels/) [Harold Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-howe/) > [“The richest person in the world - in fact, all the riches in the world - couldn't provide you with anything like the endless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/the-richest-person-in-the-world-in-fact-all-the-riches-in-the-world/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [We cannot measure, what it is we do not know to value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-solis/we-cannot-measure-what-it-is-we-do-not-know-to-value/) [Brian Solis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-solis/) > [To measure is to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/to-measure-is-to-know/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [For so it is, O Lord my God, I measure it! But what it is I measure, I do not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/for-so-it-is-o-lord-my-god-i-measure-it-but-what-it-is-i-measure-i-do/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [“we figure out what we need to learn, use innovation accounting to figure out what we need to measure to know if we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/we-figure-out-what-we-need-to-learn-use-innovation-accounting-to/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [Your life will not measure by what you know. It will only be measured by what you do. And how you feel about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/your-life-will-not-measure-by-what-you-know-it-will-only-be-measured/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [“Nothing is so intimately a part of a man as his library. It contains just what the possessor wants to look at most often,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft-2/nothing-is-so-intimately-a-part-of-a-man-as-his-library-it-contains/) [H.P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft-2/) > [The man who has a library of his own collection is able to contemplate himself objectively, and is justified in believing in his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-birrell/the-man-who-has-a-library-of-his-own-collection-is-able-to/) [Augustine Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-birrell/) > [My great-grandfather was a self-taught man, and his library was extraordinary. I read the lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/my-great-grandfather-was-a-self-taught-man-and-his-library-was/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [Me, poor man, my library Was dukedom large enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/me-poor-man-my-library-was-dukedom-large-enough/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There are other books in a man's library besides Ovid, and after dawdling ever so long at a woman's knee, one day he gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/there-are-other-books-in-a-man-s-library-besides-ovid-and-after/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [A man's library is a sort of harem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-s-library-is-a-sort-of-harem/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [But what can a man see of a library being one day in it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/but-what-can-a-man-see-of-a-library-being-one-day-in-it/) [James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/) ## More by Geraldine Brooks > [“The word for mother, umm, is the root of the words for “source, nation, mercy, first principle, rich harvest; stupid, illiterate, parasite, weak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/the-word-for-mother-umm-is-the-root-of-the-words-for-source-nation/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“The lieutenant colonel wondered if the high scores reflected a defect in the newly built shooting range at the women’s academy. To find out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/the-lieutenant-colonel-wondered-if-the-high-scores-reflected-a-defect/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“No wonder simple men have always had their gods dwell in the high places. For as soon as a man lets his eye drop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/no-wonder-simple-men-have-always-had-their-gods-dwell-in-the-high/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [I was really interested in how marriages work, how you can, you know, be in love with somebody and spend many years with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/i-was-really-interested-in-how-marriages-work-how-you-can-you-know-be/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [Writing is like bricklaying; you put down one word after another. Sometimes the wall goes up straight and true and sometimes it doesn't and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/writing-is-like-bricklaying-you-put-down-one-word-after-another/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“... So this was how it was to be, now: I would do my best to live in the quick world, but the ghosts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/so-this-was-how-it-was-to-be-now-i-would-do-my-best-to-live-in-the/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“They threw rotten fruit at me and told me next time it would be acid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/they-threw-rotten-fruit-at-me-and-told-me-next-time-it-would-be-acid/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“You," he continued, grabbing my wrist. "All of you, from the safe world, with your air bags and your tamper-proof packaging and your fat-free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/you-he-continued-grabbing-my-wrist-all-of-you-from-the-safe-world/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“This is how an owl must look to a mouse in that last second before the talons sink into the flesh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/this-is-how-an-owl-must-look-to-a-mouse-in-that-last-second-before/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [And so, as generally happens, those who have most give least, and those with less somehow make shrift to share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/and-so-as-generally-happens-those-who-have-most-give-least-and-those/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“The author of this text did not write to provoke, but merely to express a truth as he conceives it. Your own theologians have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/the-author-of-this-text-did-not-write-to-provoke-but-merely-to/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“So, you are happy to be a pigeon?” “Maybe so. But at least a pigeon does no harm. The hawk lives at the expense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/so-you-are-happy-to-be-a-pigeon-maybe-so-but-at-least-a-pigeon-does/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“Many men believe in the saying that educating women is like allowing the nose of the camel into the tent: eventually the beast will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/many-men-believe-in-the-saying-that-educating-women-is-like-allowing/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“No, no,” he said. “She can’t raise it at all. She may only clap. Women must be very careful of their voices. If”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/no-no-he-said-she-can-t-raise-it-at-all-she-may-only-clap-women-must/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [If a man is to lose his fortune, it is a good thing if he were poor before he acquired it, for poverty requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/if-a-man-is-to-lose-his-fortune-it-is-a-good-thing-if-he-were-poor/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) [Explore all 256 Geraldine Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To know a man's library is, in some measure, to know a man's mind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Geraldine Brooks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/to-know-a-man-s-library-is-in-some-measure-to-know-a-man-s-mind/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/to-know-a-man-s-library-is-in-some-measure-to-know-a-man-s-mind/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/619/geraldine-brooks-1324_attitude_to-know-a-man-s-library-is-in-some-measu_2591610.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/619/geraldine-brooks-1324_attitude_to-know-a-man-s-library-is-in-some-measu_2591610.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/619/geraldine-brooks-1324_attitude_to-know-a-man-s-library-is-in-some-measu_2591610.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To know a man's library is, in some measure, to know a man's mind.” — Geraldine Brooks", "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": "Geraldine Brooks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To know a man's library is,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/to-know-a-man-s-library-is-in-some-measure-to-know-a-man-s-mind/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/to-know-a-man-s-library-is-in-some-measure-to-know-a-man-s-mind/#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 } } ] } ```