Books Quote by Jules Verne
““The formalities necessary to obtain a work were quite complicated; the borrower's form had to contain the book's title, format, publication date, edition number, and the author's name- in other words, unless one was already informed, one could not become so. At the bottom, spaces were left to indicate the borrower's age, address, profession, and purpose of research. Michel obeyed these regulations and handed his properly filled-out form to the librarian sleeping at his desk; following his example, the pages were snoring loudly on chairs set around the wall; their functions had become a sinecure as complete as those of the ushers at the Comedie-Francaise. The librarian, waking with a start, stared at the bold young man; he read the form and appeared to be stupefied at the request; after much deliberation, to Michel's alarm, he sent the latter to a subordinate official working near his own window, but at a separate little desk...””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Book of the Future, 1885 (fictional)
Complex borrowing rules require detailed personal information, making access cumbersome and bureaucratic.
In simple terms: Bureaucracy hinders access to books.
Key Takeaway
Simplify procedures to encourage learning.
Themes
bureaucracy
access
knowledge
information
administration
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
critical
explanatory
When to use this quote
- libraries
- academic research
- public archives
- digital repositories
- government services
Key Concepts
information overload
red tape
privacy concerns
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternatives could streamline access while protecting privacy?
- How does bureaucracy affect knowledge equity?
A Different Perspective
Excessive paperwork can deter seekers and limit knowledge dissemination.
![“[D]on't grow old. With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. Without a conscience a man may never be said to grow old. This is an age of very old young men.” quote by Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/076/hesketh-pearson-35291_age_d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-w_14010.jpg)
