--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our great function is to inform or to…" description: "\"Our great function is to inform or to inspire, or to please; to give to the public in the quickest and cheapest way information, inspiration, and recre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/melvil-dewey-46046_better-way_our-great-function-is-to-inform-or-to-in_685256.jpg" --- # Our great function is to inform or to inspire, or to… ![“Our great function is to inform or to inspire, or to please; to give to the public in the quickest and cheapest way information, inspiration, and recreation on the highest plane. If a better way than the books is found we should use it.” quote by Melvil Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/melvil-dewey-46046_better-way_our-great-function-is-to-inform-or-to-in_685256.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/melvil-dewey-46046_better-way_our-great-function-is-to-inform-or-to-in_685256.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/melvil-dewey-46046_better-way_our-great-function-is-to-inform-or-to-in_685256.jpg) > “Our great function is to inform or to inspire, or to please; to give to the public in the quickest and cheapest way information, inspiration, and recreation on the highest plane. If a better way than the books is found we should use it.” [Melvil Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvil-dewey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It argues that the primary role of information providers is to deliver knowledge, inspiration, and entertainment efficiently and affordably, and to adopt better methods when they arise. **In simple terms:** Inform, inspire, and entertain the public cheaply and quickly. Key Takeaway Embrace new, better ways to share information. Themes education accessibility innovation Mood optimistic pragmatic Type policy educational When to use this quote - library services - digital platforms - educational outreach Key Concepts public service media distribution Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure new media remains reliable? - What standards should guide affordable information? A Different Perspective New methods may raise concerns about quality or equity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-way/) [Better ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-ways/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Function Inform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function-inform-5414907/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Great Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-function-3675065/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inform Inspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inform-inspire-2857039/) [Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Inspire Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspire-public-5414908/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [Recreation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recreation/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Things get done only if the data we gather can inform and inspire those in a position to make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/things-get-done-only-if-the-data-we-gather-can-inform-and-inspire/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The great function of poetry is to give back to us the situations of our dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-bachelard/the-great-function-of-poetry-is-to-give-back-to-us-the-situations-of/) [Gaston Bachelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-bachelard/) > [A library's function is to give the public in the quickest and cheapest way: information, inspiration, and recreation. If a better way than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvil-dewey/a-library-s-function-is-to-give-the-public-in-the-quickest-and/) [Melvil Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvil-dewey/) > [I don't think I picked up the guitar in the first place as a way of getting women. There are probably better ways of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-blunt/i-don-t-think-i-picked-up-the-guitar-in-the-first-place-as-a-way-of/) [James Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-blunt/) > [For the children and the flowers are my sisters and my brothers, come and stand beside me, we can find a better way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/for-the-children-and-the-flowers-are-my-sisters-and-my-brothers-come/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [Progress comes from finding better ways to do things. Don't be afraid of innovation. Don't be afraid of ideas that are not your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crockford/progress-comes-from-finding-better-ways-to-do-things-don-t-be-afraid/) [Douglas Crockford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crockford/) > [Punishment by definition isn't going to help. So what you need to do is to help people to change and recover is to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maia-szalavitz/punishment-by-definition-isn-t-going-to-help-so-what-you-need-to-do/) [Maia Szalavitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maia-szalavitz/) > [“Few better ways exist to ensure problems will arise in a given task than by making plans for afterward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-r-lallo/few-better-ways-exist-to-ensure-problems-will-arise-in-a-given-task/) [Joseph R. Lallo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-r-lallo/) > [It was only after I had been out of the art school that I actually copied a small Seurat, and I copied it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-riley/it-was-only-after-i-had-been-out-of-the-art-school-that-i-actually/) [Bridget Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-riley/) > [Technology may create a condition, but the questions are what do we do about ourselves. We better understand ourselves pretty clearly and we better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/technology-may-create-a-condition-but-the-questions-are-what-do-we-do/) [Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/) > [It's a truly disgusting idea that the creator of the universe - capable of inventing the laws of physics and designing the evolutionary process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/it-s-a-truly-disgusting-idea-that-the-creator-of-the-universe-capable/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [There never was a tonic that would cure more social ailments than a healthy, happy home. There never was a greater source of social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/there-never-was-a-tonic-that-would-cure-more-social-ailments-than-a/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [The answer lies in preventing these failures, not in looking for better ways to fix the people who are failing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/the-answer-lies-in-preventing-these-failures-not-in-looking-for/) [William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/) > [I explain at the parties that I believe knitting is a transformative and intriguing act that can change the life and brain of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/i-explain-at-the-parties-that-i-believe-knitting-is-a-transformative/) [Stephanie Pearl-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/) > [If you really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-really-know-how-to-live-what-better-way-to-start-the-day-than/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) ## More by Melvil Dewey > [The eternal conflict of good and the best with bad and the worst is on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvil-dewey/the-eternal-conflict-of-good-and-the-best-with-bad-and-the-worst-is-on/) [Melvil Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvil-dewey/) > [To my thinking, a great librarian must have a clear head, a strong hand, and, above all, a great heart. And when I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvil-dewey/to-my-thinking-a-great-librarian-must-have-a-clear-head-a-strong-hand/) [Melvil Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvil-dewey/) > [The librarian must be the librarian militant before he can be the librarian triumphant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvil-dewey/the-librarian-must-be-the-librarian-militant-before-he-can-be-the/) [Melvil Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvil-dewey/) > [The time was when a library was very like a museum and the librarian a mouser among dusty books. The time is when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvil-dewey/the-time-was-when-a-library-was-very-like-a-museum-and-the-librarian/) [Melvil Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvil-dewey/) > [A library's function is to give the public in the quickest and cheapest way: information, inspiration, and recreation. 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We have our share of difficulties with our federal government, although I've tried to as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-miller/we-re-also-fairly-stubborn-i-think-fairly-independent-we-have-our/) [Dan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-miller/) > [You know, I'm blessed. 'Blessed' is a better way of saying 'rich.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/you-know-i-m-blessed-blessed-is-a-better-way-of-saying-rich/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [I believe there should be a better way to start each day...instead of waking up every morning...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-there-should-be-a-better-way-to-start-each-day-instead-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [WE NEED TO TALK. Why do we fear these four little words? Why do they arouse the same physical protective responses that occur in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santanu-mishra/we-need-to-talk-why-do-we-fear-these-four-little-words-why-do-they/) [Santanu Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santanu-mishra/) > [If you really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-really-know-how-to-live-what-better-way-to-start-the-day-than/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“Frequently, when I suggest to people that they detach from a person or problem, they recoil in horror. “Oh, no!” they say. “I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/frequently-when-i-suggest-to-people-that-they-detach-from-a-person-or/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [“I was reminded ... the way that wood crumbles into dissolution.’ ‘The release of energy. Perhaps a better way of seeing it.’ ‘Such release…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/i-was-reminded-the-way-that-wood-crumbles-into-dissolution-the/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [I explain at the parties that I believe knitting is a transformative and intriguing act that can change the life and brain of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/i-explain-at-the-parties-that-i-believe-knitting-is-a-transformative/) [Stephanie Pearl-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/) > [“No better way to avoid making a decision than burying yourself in a big fat book.” (p. 105).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bard/no-better-way-to-avoid-making-a-decision-than-burying-yourself-in-a/) [Elizabeth Bard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bard/) > [Failure does not mean that God has left you, but it does mean that God has a better way and idea for you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prodigy/failure-does-not-mean-that-god-has-left-you-but-it-does-mean-that-god/) [Prodigy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prodigy/) > [The answer lies in preventing these failures, not in looking for better ways to fix the people who are failing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/the-answer-lies-in-preventing-these-failures-not-in-looking-for/) [William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/) > [There never was a tonic that would cure more social ailments than a healthy, happy home. 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Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [It's a truly disgusting idea that the creator of the universe - capable of inventing the laws of physics and designing the evolutionary process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/it-s-a-truly-disgusting-idea-that-the-creator-of-the-universe-capable/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It was only after I had been out of the art school that I actually copied a small Seurat, and I copied it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-riley/it-was-only-after-i-had-been-out-of-the-art-school-that-i-actually/) [Bridget Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-riley/) > [There is no better way of elevating the novel than by making it into a construct which contains ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-mann/there-is-no-better-way-of-elevating-the-novel-than-by-making-it-into/) [Heinrich Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-mann/) [Browse all 882 Better way quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-way/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our great function is to inform or to inspire, or to please; to give to the public in the quickest and cheapest way information, inspiration, and recreation on the highest plane. 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