Book Quote by Michel de Montaigne
“I have seen books made of things neither studied nor ever understood ... the author contenting himself for his own part, to have cast the plot and projected the design of it, and by his industry to have bound up the fagot of unknown provisions; at least the ink and paper his own. This may be said to be a buying or borrowing, and not a making or compiling of a book.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "Of Books", 1580
The quote likens reading to borrowing or buying ideas, emphasizing that authors compile rather than create original content.
In simple terms: Reading is borrowing ideas, not creating them.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate the collaborative nature of knowledge.
Themes
knowledge
authorship
collaboration
Mood
analytical
reflective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- academic research
- creative writing
- library use
Key Concepts
literary theory
history of ideas
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this view affect how we value authors?
- What responsibilities do readers have?
A Different Perspective
May undervalue original thought.
![“Buffett found it 'extraordinary' that academics studied such things. They studied what was measurable, rather than what was meaningful. 'As a friend [Charlie Munger] said, to a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” quote by Roger Lowenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a50/roger-lowenstein-34951_academic_buffett-found-it-extraordinary-that-acad_2270654.jpg)
