Augustine Quote by James V. Schall
“I often think . . . that the bookstores that will save civilization are not online, nor on campuses, nor named Borders, Barnes & Noble, Dalton, or Crown. They are the used bookstores, in which, for a couple of hundred dollars, one can still find, with some diligence, the essential books of our culture, from the Bible and Shakespeare to Plato, Augustine, and Pascal.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Bookstore and Civilization, 2015
The future of culture depends on affordable, physical used bookstores that preserve essential works.
In simple terms: Used bookstores keep vital books alive.
Key Takeaway
Support and visit local used bookstores.
Themes
culture
preservation
access
affordability
Mood
nostalgic
hopeful
Type
observational
advocacy
When to use this quote
- students seeking classic texts
- budget‑conscious readers
- small‑town entrepreneurs
- library volunteers
Key Concepts
literature
canon
community
economics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can communities fund used bookstores?
- What role do they play in education?
A Different Perspective
Online retailers dominate market, limiting discovery of hidden gems.
![“No one will seek the highest [things] if he believes that there is no truth, that nothing is his fault, and that government will guarantee his wants.” quote by James V. Schall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/541/james-v-schall-41294_believes_no-one-will-seek-the-highest-things-if-h_3215566.jpg)
![“Again, I hear almost everyday from atheists who write off religion as primitive, premodern nonsense. I summon Aquinas, Augustine, Paul [of Tarsus], Teresa of Avila, Joseph Ratzinger, and Edith Stein-in all their intellectual rigor-as allies in the the struggle against this dismissive atheism.” quote by Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/86d/robert-barron-13186_allies_again-i-hear-almost-everyday-from-atheis_35728.jpg)
