Ancient egyptian Quote by Miles Harvey
““What a vapid job title our culture gives to those honorable laborers the ancient Egyptians and Sumerians variously called Learned Men of the Magic Library, Scribes of the Double House of Life, Mistresses of the House of Books, or Ordainers of the Universe. 'Librarian' - that mouth-contorting, graceless grind of a word, that dry gulch in the dictionary between 'libido' and 'licentious' - it practically begs you to envision a stoop-shouldered loser, socks mismatched, eyes locked in a permanent squint from reading too much microfiche. If it were up to me, I would abolish the word entirely and turn back to the lexicological wisdom of the ancients, who saw librarians not as feeble sorters and shelvers but as heroic guardians. In Assyrian, Babylonian, and Egyptian cultures alike, those who toiled at the shelves were often bestowed with a proud, even soldierly, title: Keeper of the Books. - p.113””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Library of Babel, 2020
The term “librarian” is disparaged, but historically librarians were revered as guardians of knowledge, suggesting the need to restore respect for the profession.
In simple terms: Librarians were once honored as knowledge keepers, not lowly workers.
Key Takeaway
Restore dignity to the role of librarians.
Themes
respect
knowledge
history
profession
language
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
analytical
advocacy
When to use this quote
- library work
- career perception
- historical titles
Key Concepts
Sociolinguistics
cultural heritage
professional identity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can language reshape professional esteem?
- What titles better reflect librarians’ contributions?
A Different Perspective
Modern titles may diminish perceived value.
![“[E]very man hath liberty to write, but few ability. Heretofore learning was graced by judicious scholars, but now noble sciences are vilified by base and illiterate scribblers, that either write for vain-glory, need, to get money, or as Parasites to flatter and collogue with some great men, they…” quote by Robert Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/792/robert-burton-10069_books_e-very-man-hath-liberty-to-write-but-few_213260.jpg)
