--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Knowledge was power, but a good librarian…" description: "\"Knowledge was power, but a good librarian did not hoard the gift. She taught others how to find, where to look, how to see.\" — Jodi Picoult" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/544/jodi-picoult-45_knowledge_knowledge-was-power-but-a-good-librarian_403046.jpg" --- # Knowledge was power, but a good librarian did not hoard… ![“Knowledge was power, but a good librarian did not hoard the gift. She taught others how to find, where to look, how to see.” quote by Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/544/jodi-picoult-45_knowledge_knowledge-was-power-but-a-good-librarian_403046.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/544/jodi-picoult-45_knowledge_knowledge-was-power-but-a-good-librarian_403046.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/544/jodi-picoult-45_knowledge_knowledge-was-power-but-a-good-librarian_403046.jpg) > “Knowledge was power, but a good librarian did not hoard the gift. She taught others how to find, where to look, how to see.” [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A librarian empowers others by sharing knowledge rather than keeping it secret, teaching how to locate and interpret information. **In simple terms:** Librarians share knowledge, not hoard it. Key Takeaway Teach others to find and understand information. Themes education knowledge sharing empowerment Mood inspirational thoughtful Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - schools - public libraries - online research - workshops Key Concepts library science information literacy community building Questions to Reflect On - How can you help others discover information responsibly? - What barriers prevent people from seeking knowledge? A Different Perspective If resources are limited, sharing may strain the librarian's capacity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gift Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gift-taught-1513429/) [Good Librarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-librarian-364922/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-power/) [Librarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/librarian/) [Librarian Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/librarian-did-503333/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“Librarians, to Melanie, were somewhat on par wit God- who else could be bothered with, and better yet, know the answers to so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/librarians-to-melanie-were-somewhat-on-par-wit-god-who-else-could-be/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Librarians were somewhat on a par with God-who else could be bothered with, and better yet, know the answers to so many different types…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/librarians-were-somewhat-on-a-par-with-god-who-else-could-be-bothered/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Librarians, to Melanie, were somewhat in a par with god -- who else could be bothered with, and better yet, know the answers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/librarians-to-melanie-were-somewhat-in-a-par-with-god-who-else-could/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Like a good American, I wanted to sue somebody. But like a good librarian, I just sat at my desk and waited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-makkai/like-a-good-american-i-wanted-to-sue-somebody-but-like-a-good/) [Rebecca Makkai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-makkai/) > [In early days, I tried not to give librarians any trouble, which was where I made my primary mistake. Librarians like to be given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-drinker-bowen/in-early-days-i-tried-not-to-give-librarians-any-trouble-which-was/) [Catherine Drinker Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-drinker-bowen/) > [“I got that familiar mania - there is information somewhere here, and I can find it, I have to. A good librarian is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mccracken/i-got-that-familiar-mania-there-is-information-somewhere-here-and-i/) [Elizabeth McCracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mccracken/) > [The secret of a good librarian is that he never reads anything more of the literature in his charge than the title and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-musil/the-secret-of-a-good-librarian-is-that-he-never-reads-anything-more/) [Robert Musil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-musil/) > [“The most important lessons my fluffy divine gift has taught me are meant for sharing: 1. It’s logical to start each day with a kiss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-skiff/the-most-important-lessons-my-fluffy-divine-gift-has-taught-me-are/) [Jennifer Skiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-skiff/) > [“If you haven’t got the gift no one can give it to you, but if you have you can be taught how to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/if-you-haven-t-got-the-gift-no-one-can-give-it-to-you-but-if-you-have/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“In order to be really good as a librarian, everything counts towards your work, every play you go see, every concert you hear, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-smith/in-order-to-be-really-good-as-a-librarian-everything-counts-towards/) [Allen Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-smith/) > [A person of knowledge and power never goes out looking for battles. All their battles are within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-person-of-knowledge-and-power-never-goes-out-looking-for-battles/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I ... must continue to strive for more knowledge and more power, though the new knowledge always contradicts the old and the new power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-must-continue-to-strive-for-more-knowledge-and-more-power-though/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Knowledge is power and enthusiasm pulls the switch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-droke/knowledge-is-power-and-enthusiasm-pulls-the-switch/) [Steve Droke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-droke/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-boyce/knowledge-is-power-knowledge-shared-is-power-multiplied/) [Robert Boyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-boyce/) ## More by Jodi Picoult > [You get through it, you just never get over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-get-through-it-you-just-never-get-over-it/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Let me guess," Eric says, "You never meant for it to happen." "Hell, yes, I did. I've wanted her since you two started dating."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/let-me-guess-eric-says-you-never-meant-for-it-to-happen-hell-yes-i/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“It’s the difference between dancing along the eggshell crust of acquaintance and diving into the messy center of a relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-s-the-difference-between-dancing-along-the-eggshell-crust-of/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Because hate's just the flip side of love. Like heads and tails on a dime. If you don't know what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/because-hate-s-just-the-flip-side-of-love-like-heads-and-tails-on-a/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Some women are meant to change the world, while others are meant to hold it together. And then there are those of us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/some-women-are-meant-to-change-the-world-while-others-are-meant-to/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I love feeling loved. I don't love knowing that I will always come in second place. I love the fact that at least sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-love-feeling-loved-i-don-t-love-knowing-that-i-will-always-come-in/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Music is the language of memory”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/music-is-the-language-of-memory/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [But there is a different between mending someone who's broken and finding someone who makes you complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/but-there-is-a-different-between-mending-someone-who-s-broken-and/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“sometimes words are not big enough to contain all the feelings you are trying to pour into them. My”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/sometimes-words-are-not-big-enough-to-contain-all-the-feelings-you/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“The age wasn't as important as the milestones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-age-wasn-t-as-important-as-the-milestones/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The night is falling down around us. Meteors rain like fireworks, quick rips in the seam of the dark... Every second, another streak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-night-is-falling-down-around-us-meteors-rain-like-fireworks-quick/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“When she had packed all the artifacts that made up their personal history into liquor store boxes, the house became strictly a feminine place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/when-she-had-packed-all-the-artifacts-that-made-up-their-personal/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/maybe-who-we-are-isn-t-so-much-about-what-we-do-but-rather-what-we-re/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Here's what I hadn't realized : the mother you haven't seen for almost 36 years isn't your mother. She is a stranger. Sharing DNA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/here-s-what-i-hadn-t-realized-the-mother-you-haven-t-seen-for-almost/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [My brother believed in all sorts of mythical creatures: pixies, dragons, werewolves, honest men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/my-brother-believed-in-all-sorts-of-mythical-creatures-pixies-dragons/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) [Explore all 2,062 Jodi Picoult quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## More Knowledge quotes > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) [Rabelaise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabelaise/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I never knew any man who had once tasted the sweetness of experimental knowledge, that ever afterward fasted after ye Vapour garlick and onions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-zimmer/i-never-knew-any-man-who-had-once-tasted-the-sweetness-of/) [Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-zimmer/) > [I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [I am an aware citizen, so I want my characters to be aware, too. They should be aware of what's happening in the society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-tripathi/i-am-an-aware-citizen-so-i-want-my-characters-to-be-aware-too-they/) [Pankaj Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-tripathi/) > [Technology means the systematic application of scientific or other organized knowledge to practical tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/technology-means-the-systematic-application-of-scientific-or-other/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Love is a vision,love carry our vision,and love by-step our vision. we carry our love to our by-step. once love is vision love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-a-vision-love-carry-our-vision-and-love-by-step-our-vision-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Man is an ignoramus athirst for knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wagner/man-is-an-ignoramus-athirst-for-knowledge/) [Charles Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wagner/) [Browse all 13,227 Knowledge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Knowledge was power, but a good librarian did not hoard the gift. 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