--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A library, to modify the famous metaphor…" description: "\"A library, to modify the famous metaphor of Socrates, should be the delivery room for the birth of ideas - a place where history comes to life.\" — Norm..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/023/norman-cousins-2488_delivery-room_a-library-to-modify-the-famous-metaphor_728436.jpg" --- # A library, to modify the famous metaphor of Socrates… ![“A library, to modify the famous metaphor of Socrates, should be the delivery room for the birth of ideas - a place where history comes to life.” quote by Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/023/norman-cousins-2488_delivery-room_a-library-to-modify-the-famous-metaphor_728436.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/023/norman-cousins-2488_delivery-room_a-library-to-modify-the-famous-metaphor_728436.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/023/norman-cousins-2488_delivery-room_a-library-to-modify-the-famous-metaphor_728436.jpg) > “A library, to modify the famous metaphor of Socrates, should be the delivery room for the birth of ideas - a place where history comes to life.” [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Libraries should be vibrant spaces where ideas are born and history comes alive. **In simple terms:** Libraries foster idea creation and bring history to life. Key Takeaway Support and revitalize libraries as community idea hubs. Themes knowledge history creativity community Mood optimistic thoughtful Type inspirational educational When to use this quote - schools - public policy - digital archives - literary events Key Concepts information science education cultural heritage Questions to Reflect On - How can you contribute to your local library? - What role do libraries play in modern learning? A Different Perspective Funding cuts threaten library vitality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delivery room](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delivery-room/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [A library is the delivery room for the birth of ideas, a place where history comes to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/a-library-is-the-delivery-room-for-the-birth-of-ideas-a-place-where-2/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [A library is the delivery room for the birth of ideas, a place where history comes to life. Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic\_education3.htmlgqDWEHxuOJyvI5s2.99](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zahid-abas/a-library-is-the-delivery-room-for-the-birth-of-ideas-a-place-where/) [Zahid Abas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zahid-abas/) > [The library is not a shrine for the worship of books. It is not a temple where literary incense must be burned or where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-library-is-not-a-shrine-for-the-worship-of-books-it-is-not-a-2/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [“The library is not a shrine for the worship of books. It is not a temple where literary incense must be burned or where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-library-is-not-a-shrine-for-the-worship-of-books-it-is-not-a/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [“A son," the Queen said, and her smile lit up the room. "Will I give birth soon?" The old woman nodded. "When?" The old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wheeler-scott/a-son-the-queen-said-and-her-smile-lit-up-the-room-will-i-give-birth/) Wheeler Scott > [Labor gives birth to ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/labor-gives-birth-to-ideas/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Being a biological mother just isn't part of my experience this time around. However, I am a mother who continues to give birth to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/being-a-biological-mother-just-isn-t-part-of-my-experience-this-time/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) > [“In a private room down the hall, a tired but delighted Cecily was watching her husband with his brand-new son. Cecily had thought that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/in-a-private-room-down-the-hall-a-tired-but-delighted-cecily-was/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“The delivery room is cold and it has a view of the city. A view of smokestacks and snow-kissed rooftops. An industrial grid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-abbott/the-delivery-room-is-cold-and-it-has-a-view-of-the-city-a-view-of/) [Daniel Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-abbott/) > [I'm not interested in being Wonder Woman in the delivery room. Give me drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-interested-in-being-wonder-woman-in-the-delivery-room-give-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's something that happens in that delivery room, when a woman becomes ten times more a woman, and a guy becomes six times less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reiser/there-s-something-that-happens-in-that-delivery-room-when-a-woman/) [Paul Reiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reiser/) > [“For that half-hour in the hospital delivery room I was intimate with immensity, for that half-minute before birth I held her hands and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-wilson/for-that-half-hour-in-the-hospital-delivery-room-i-was-intimate-with/) [William S. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-wilson/) > [On the way to the delivery room, I almost changed my mind about having a baby. I wouldn't have found it so hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/on-the-way-to-the-delivery-room-i-almost-changed-my-mind-about-having/) [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) > [The gap between the inner and outer self is one I've found interesting, even essential, about the way we move through the world. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-brownrigg/the-gap-between-the-inner-and-outer-self-is-one-i-ve-found/) [Sylvia Brownrigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-brownrigg/) > [All I know is that it is you I want to see waiting for me at the altar, it is you I want holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-i-know-is-that-it-is-you-i-want-to-see-waiting-for-me-at-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Norman Cousins > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. Even to speculate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-poet-reminds-men-of-their-uniqueness-and-it-is-not-necessary-to/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Unobstructed access to facts can produce unlimited good only if it is matched by the desire and ability to find out what they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/unobstructed-access-to-facts-can-produce-unlimited-good-only-if-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What was significant about the laughter . . . was not just the fact that it provides internal exercise for a person . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-was-significant-about-the-laughter-was-not-just-the-fact-that-it/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [You are younger today than you will ever be again. Make use of it for the sake of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/you-are-younger-today-than-you-will-ever-be-again-make-use-of-it-for/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [On the quality of life: #1. Realize that each human being has a built-in capacity for recuperation and repair. #2. Recognize that the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/on-the-quality-of-life-1-realize-that-each-human-being-has-a-built-in/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What a man really says when he says that someone else can be persuaded by force, is that he himself is incapable of more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-a-man-really-says-when-he-says-that-someone-else-can-be/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The starting point for a better world is the belief that it is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is-the-belief-that-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The physician knows that his little black bag can carry him only so far and that the body's own healing system is the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-physician-knows-that-his-little-black-bag-can-carry-him-only-so/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [We are wide-eyed in contemplating the possibility that life may exist elsewhere in the universe, but we wear blinders when contemplating the possibilities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/we-are-wide-eyed-in-contemplating-the-possibility-that-life-may-exist/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The essence of man is imperfection. Failure is simply a price we pay to achieve success. If we learn to embrace that new definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-essence-of-man-is-imperfection-failure-is-simply-a-price-we-pay/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [My reason nourishes my faith and my faith my reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/my-reason-nourishes-my-faith-and-my-faith-my-reason/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The growth of the human mind is still high adventure, in many ways the highest adventure on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-growth-of-the-human-mind-is-still-high-adventure-in-many-ways-the/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Death is not the enemy; living in constant fear of it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/death-is-not-the-enemy-living-in-constant-fear-of-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [All this sensory input, which begins in the brain, has its effect throughout the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/all-this-sensory-input-which-begins-in-the-brain-has-its-effect/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Humanity today is not safe in the presence of humanity. The old cannibalism has given way to anonymous action in which the killer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/humanity-today-is-not-safe-in-the-presence-of-humanity-the-old/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) [Explore all 162 Norman Cousins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## More Delivery room quotes > [All I know is that it is you I want to see waiting for me at the altar, it is you I want holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-i-know-is-that-it-is-you-i-want-to-see-waiting-for-me-at-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The gap between the inner and outer self is one I've found interesting, even essential, about the way we move through the world. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-brownrigg/the-gap-between-the-inner-and-outer-self-is-one-i-ve-found/) [Sylvia Brownrigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-brownrigg/) > [On the way to the delivery room, I almost changed my mind about having a baby. I wouldn't have found it so hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/on-the-way-to-the-delivery-room-i-almost-changed-my-mind-about-having/) [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) > [“For that half-hour in the hospital delivery room I was intimate with immensity, for that half-minute before birth I held her hands and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-wilson/for-that-half-hour-in-the-hospital-delivery-room-i-was-intimate-with/) [William S. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-wilson/) > [There's something that happens in that delivery room, when a woman becomes ten times more a woman, and a guy becomes six times less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reiser/there-s-something-that-happens-in-that-delivery-room-when-a-woman/) [Paul Reiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reiser/) > [I'm not interested in being Wonder Woman in the delivery room. Give me drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-interested-in-being-wonder-woman-in-the-delivery-room-give-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The delivery room is cold and it has a view of the city. A view of smokestacks and snow-kissed rooftops. An industrial grid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-abbott/the-delivery-room-is-cold-and-it-has-a-view-of-the-city-a-view-of/) [Daniel Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-abbott/) > [“In a private room down the hall, a tired but delighted Cecily was watching her husband with his brand-new son. Cecily had thought that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/in-a-private-room-down-the-hall-a-tired-but-delighted-cecily-was/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“Drake was going to scream. "That's my sister," he growled. He did not need to hear about her getting it on with anyone. "Uh-huh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-michael/drake-was-going-to-scream-that-s-my-sister-he-growled-he-did-not-need/) [Sean Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-michael/) > [“The library is not a shrine for the worship of books. It is not a temple where literary incense must be burned or where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-library-is-not-a-shrine-for-the-worship-of-books-it-is-not-a/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [“Circumcision remains prevalent in the United States, though varying greatly by region, ranging from about 40 percent of newborns circumcised in western states to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-ryan/circumcision-remains-prevalent-in-the-united-states-though-varying/) [Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/) > [“Unfortunately, many of us begin life on this planet with toxins in our cells. Some we inherited from our parents and grandparents, and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-gates/unfortunately-many-of-us-begin-life-on-this-planet-with-toxins-in-our/) Donna Gates > [Hey babe, promise me when you in the delivery room on the bed, skin up and pushing out our baby and you in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/hey-babe-promise-me-when-you-in-the-delivery-room-on-the-bed-skin-up/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Homer and Candy passed by the empty and brightly lit dispensary; they peeked into Nurse Angela's empty office. Homer knew better than to peek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/homer-and-candy-passed-by-the-empty-and-brightly-lit-dispensary-they/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“To review briefly, in the late 1960s, men got paid more than women (usually double) for doing the exact same job. Women could get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-j-douglas/to-review-briefly-in-the-late-1960s-men-got-paid-more-than-women/) [Susan J. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-j-douglas/) [Browse all 28 Delivery room quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delivery-room/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A library, to modify the famous metaphor of Socrates, should be the delivery room for the birth of ideas - a place where history comes to life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman Cousins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/a-library-to-modify-the-famous-metaphor-of-socrates-should-be-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delivery room" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/a-library-to-modify-the-famous-metaphor-of-socrates-should-be-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/023/norman-cousins-2488_delivery-room_a-library-to-modify-the-famous-metaphor_728436.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/023/norman-cousins-2488_delivery-room_a-library-to-modify-the-famous-metaphor_728436.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/023/norman-cousins-2488_delivery-room_a-library-to-modify-the-famous-metaphor_728436.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A library, to modify the famous metaphor of Socrates, should be the delivery room for the birth of ideas - a…” — Norman Cousins", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Norman Cousins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A library, to modify the famous...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/a-library-to-modify-the-famous-metaphor-of-socrates-should-be-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/a-library-to-modify-the-famous-metaphor-of-socrates-should-be-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```