--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Spray a book with insect spray, drop it…" description: "\"Spray a book with insect spray, drop it in a bag, add some mothballs and seal it. Put it in another bag and seal it. Another. The packages piled up on ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1c/larry-niven-4263_add_spray-a-book-with-insect-spray-drop-it-i_2477738.png" --- # Spray a book with insect spray, drop it in a bag, add some… ![“Spray a book with insect spray, drop it in a bag, add some mothballs and seal it. Put it in another bag and seal it. Another. The packages piled up on the floor, each a book sealed in four plastic envelopes.” quote by Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1c/larry-niven-4263_add_spray-a-book-with-insect-spray-drop-it-i_2477738.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1c/larry-niven-4263_add_spray-a-book-with-insect-spray-drop-it-i_2477738.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1c/larry-niven-4263_add_spray-a-book-with-insect-spray-drop-it-i_2477738.png) > “Spray a book with insect spray, drop it in a bag, add some mothballs and seal it. Put it in another bag and seal it. Another. The packages piled up on the floor, each a book sealed in four plastic envelopes.” [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A bizarre, obsessive method of preserving books by sealing them in multiple layers of plastic and chemicals. **In simple terms:** Preserving books by over‑protecting them. Key Takeaway Avoid over‑complicating preservation. Themes preservation obsession materialism Mood anxious curious Type cautionary reflective When to use this quote - library storage - personal collections - museum conservation Key Concepts archival science psychology of hoarding Questions to Reflect On - Why protect something by isolating it completely? - What are healthier ways to preserve knowledge? A Different Perspective May damage books and is inefficient. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Add](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/add/) [Bags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bags/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book Insect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-insect-829406/) [Book Sealed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-sealed-829402/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Envelopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envelopes/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Insects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insects/) [Mothballs Seal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mothballs-seal-829404/) [Plastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plastic/) [Seal Packages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seal-packages-829405/) [Seals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seals/) [Spray Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spray-book-829403/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“Each tombstone was like the cover of a book that had been sealed forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-nemat/each-tombstone-was-like-the-cover-of-a-book-that-had-been-sealed/) [Marina Nemat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-nemat/) > [He pulled the envelope out of his pocket and ripped it open, then took out the slip of paper. The soft lights that ringed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/he-pulled-the-envelope-out-of-his-pocket-and-ripped-it-open-then-took/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [Every breath is a sacrament, an affirmation of our connection with all other living things, a renewal of our link with our ancestors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/every-breath-is-a-sacrament-an-affirmation-of-our-connection-with-all/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Oh, Kendra, before I forget, Gavin asked me to give you this letter." He held out a gray, speckled envelope. "Happy birthday to you!"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/oh-kendra-before-i-forget-gavin-asked-me-to-give-you-this-letter-he/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) > [I'm completely different from Pietersen. He would turn up to the opening of an envelope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-flintoff/i-m-completely-different-from-pietersen-he-would-turn-up-to-the/) [Andrew Flintoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-flintoff/) > [People who know me know I have a sense of humor that can really push the envelope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-electra/people-who-know-me-know-i-have-a-sense-of-humor-that-can-really-push/) [Carmen Electra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-electra/) > [I like pushing the envelope. But I don't like to do it just for the sake of doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-like-pushing-the-envelope-but-i-don-t-like-to-do-it-just-for-the/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [The arts can open the door to the imagination, pushing the envelope of how peace can be created. It takes courage to take this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/the-arts-can-open-the-door-to-the-imagination-pushing-the-envelope-of/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [Playing a bad guy is always a freeing experience, because you don't have the same envelope of restrictions as you have playing a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/playing-a-bad-guy-is-always-a-freeing-experience-because-you-don-t/) [John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/) > [I feel like I can always do better with action and I always want to push the envelope there as long as I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-carano/i-feel-like-i-can-always-do-better-with-action-and-i-always-want-to/) [Gina Carano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-carano/) > [ I love the idea of longevity in this career. But \[producing\] is not about, "Let me do this because this might happen 20 years… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-love-the-idea-of-longevity-in-this-career-but-producing-is-not/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I always not only want push the envelope in my career but I also have an itch for going against the grain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-hopkins/i-always-not-only-want-push-the-envelope-in-my-career-but-i-also-have/) [Bernard Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-hopkins/) > [I can't build a simple shelf. I have no idea how to change an oil filter on a car. I can't even stick a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-can-t-build-a-simple-shelf-i-have-no-idea-how-to-change-an-oil/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [It is something like the way dame Nature gathers round a foreign body an envelope of some insensitive tissue which can protect from evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/it-is-something-like-the-way-dame-nature-gathers-round-a-foreign-body/) [Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/) > [I have often wondered how they manage to get return envelopes which miss, by one-quarter of an inch, fitting the blank you are supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-have-often-wondered-how-they-manage-to-get-return-envelopes-which/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) ## More by Larry Niven > [“Once Louis Wu had sworn to live forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/once-louis-wu-had-sworn-to-live-forever/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [In challenging a kzin, a simple scream of rage is sufficient. You scream and you leap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/in-challenging-a-kzin-a-simple-scream-of-rage-is-sufficient-you/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“There is no cause so good or noble that it will not attract fuggheads; and the fuggheads will get all the press.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/there-is-no-cause-so-good-or-noble-that-it-will-not-attract-fuggheads/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“Music had played suddenly through the cabin, complex and lovely, rich in minor tones, like the sad call of a sex-maddened computer. Nessus whistled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/music-had-played-suddenly-through-the-cabin-complex-and-lovely-rich/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“This place is a playground for a questing mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/this-place-is-a-playground-for-a-questing-mind/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“have precious little free will," he was saying. "We're too intelligent not to see the right answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/have-precious-little-free-will-he-was-saying-we-re-too-intelligent/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“1a) Never throw shit at an armed man. 1b) Never stand next to someone who is throwing shit at an armed man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/1a-never-throw-shit-at-an-armed-man-1b-never-stand-next-to-someone/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [We learn only to ask more questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/we-learn-only-to-ask-more-questions/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“Everything starts as somebody's dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/everything-starts-as-somebody-s-dream/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“I asked him, "Do you know the difference between nude and naked?" He shook his head. "Nude is artistic. Naked is defenseless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/i-asked-him-do-you-know-the-difference-between-nude-and-naked-he/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [Intelligence is just a tool to be used toward a goal, and goals are not always chosen intelligently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/intelligence-is-just-a-tool-to-be-used-toward-a-goal-and-goals-are/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [And every friend I've got has been writing Mars stories. It was pretty clear I'd never catch up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/and-every-friend-i-ve-got-has-been-writing-mars-stories-it-was-pretty/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [For each human being there is an optimum ratio between change and stasis. Too little change, he grows bored. Too little stability, he panics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/for-each-human-being-there-is-an-optimum-ratio-between-change-and/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [Anything beats an expensive stack of paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/anything-beats-an-expensive-stack-of-paper/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“Humans," said the puppeteer, "should not be allowed to run loose. You will surely harm yourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/humans-said-the-puppeteer-should-not-be-allowed-to-run-loose-you-will/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) [Explore all 112 Larry Niven quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) ## More Add quotes > [Most marriages don't add two people together. 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They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [A 'modern' man has nothing to add to modernism, if only because he has nothing to oppose it with. The well-adapted drop off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/a-modern-man-has-nothing-to-add-to-modernism-if-only-because-he-has/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [Observation and theory get on best when they are mixed together, both helping one another in the pursuit of truth. It is a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/observation-and-theory-get-on-best-when-they-are-mixed-together-both/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [I may add that we have more than once stated our willingness to conclude nonaggression pacts with the states neighboring our own!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-may-add-that-we-have-more-than-once-stated-our-willingness-to/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. Each discovery of science therefore adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/new-generations-of-humans-inherit-the-acquired-discoveries-of/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Thirty days is just about the right amount of time to add a new habit or subtract a habit - like watching the news…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cutts/thirty-days-is-just-about-the-right-amount-of-time-to-add-a-new-habit/) [Matt Cutts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cutts/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [The Greeks said grandly in their tragic phrase, 'Let no one be called happy till his death;' to which I would add, 'Let no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/the-greeks-said-grandly-in-their-tragic-phrase-let-no-one-be-called/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [Mostly we just add to the piles of rainbow glass that's been blown off the exteriors of the cany-colored buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/mostly-we-just-add-to-the-piles-of-rainbow-glass-that-s-been-blown/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Global is a unifying bond for people. Once they get outside their own heads and their own communities and see themselves in a broader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-calvin/global-is-a-unifying-bond-for-people-once-they-get-outside-their-own/) [Kathy Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-calvin/) [Browse all 2,710 Add quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/add/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Spray a book with insect spray, drop it in a bag, add some mothballs and seal it. Put it in another bag and seal it. Another. 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