--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A book is worth a few francs; we Germans…" description: "\"A book is worth a few francs; we Germans can afford to destroy those. We all may not appreciate artistic merit, but cash value is another matter.\" — Pa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13b/paul-scofield-34735_appreciate_a-book-is-worth-a-few-francs-we-germans_2030507.png" --- # A book is worth a few francs; we Germans can afford to… ![“A book is worth a few francs; we Germans can afford to destroy those. We all may not appreciate artistic merit, but cash value is another matter.” quote by Paul Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13b/paul-scofield-34735_appreciate_a-book-is-worth-a-few-francs-we-germans_2030507.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13b/paul-scofield-34735_appreciate_a-book-is-worth-a-few-francs-we-germans_2030507.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13b/paul-scofield-34735_appreciate_a-book-is-worth-a-few-francs-we-germans_2030507.png) > “A book is worth a few francs; we Germans can afford to destroy those. We all may not appreciate artistic merit, but cash value is another matter.” [Paul Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scofield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Material value can outweigh artistic appreciation, leading to destructive choices. **In simple terms:** Money can trump art. Key Takeaway Recognize art beyond price. Themes art economics destruction Mood reflective critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - museum curation - art markets - collecting - preservation - policy making Key Concepts cultural value materialism Questions to Reflect On - How do we protect art from purely financial motives? - What policies can balance cultural and economic interests? A Different Perspective Art's worth is not solely monetary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artistic/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“I saw that what had appeared to me to be not worth twenty francs when it had been offered to me for twenty francs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/i-saw-that-what-had-appeared-to-me-to-be-not-worth-twenty-francs-when/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Each voice carries a portion of value, no matter how unpalatable or distasteful that voice may be: no one person, government, ideology, transnational, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-w-powe/each-voice-carries-a-portion-of-value-no-matter-how-unpalatable-or/) [B. W. Powe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-w-powe/) > [“You are loved. You are of value. You matter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/onyih-odunze/you-are-loved-you-are-of-value-you-matter/) Onyih Odunze > [A book worth reading is worth buying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/a-book-worth-reading-is-worth-buying/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The heart is the only book worth reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/the-heart-is-the-only-book-worth-reading/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [“When mauma saw my raw eyes, she said, “Ain’t nobody can write down in a book what you worth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/when-mauma-saw-my-raw-eyes-she-said-ain-t-nobody-can-write-down-in-a/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [“No book is worth reading once if it is not worth reading many times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/no-book-is-worth-reading-once-if-it-is-not-worth-reading-many-times/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [“The book is worth reading, in part because it is enjoyable to read of other people's folly, not to mention their avarice and stupidity."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-lowenstein/the-book-is-worth-reading-in-part-because-it-is-enjoyable-to-read-of/) [Roger Lowenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-lowenstein/) > [The way a book is read - which is to say, the qualities a reader brings to a book - can have as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-way-a-book-is-read-which-is-to-say-the-qualities-a-reader-brings/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [There is no such thing as a worthless book though there are some far worse than worthless; no book that is not worth preserving,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-worthless-book-though-there-are-some-far/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [The very cheapness of literature is making even wise people forget that if a book is worth reading, it is worth buying. No book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-very-cheapness-of-literature-is-making-even-wise-people-forget/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Not every book has to be loaded with symbolism, irony, or musical language, but it seems to me that every book-at least every one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/not-every-book-has-to-be-loaded-with-symbolism-irony-or-musical/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“No book worth reading ever fails to be steeped with the spirit of the person who wrote it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-leicester-ford/no-book-worth-reading-ever-fails-to-be-steeped-with-the-spirit-of-the/) Paul Leicester Ford > [Before I start a project, I always ask myself the following question. Why is this book worth a year of my life? There needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/before-i-start-a-project-i-always-ask-myself-the-following-question/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [“One of these days, Strickland is going to write a little book on his experiences. That book will be worth buying; and even more,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/one-of-these-days-strickland-is-going-to-write-a-little-book-on-his/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) ## More by Paul Scofield > [I found at this point that effective acting wasn't what I wanted to do, that I didn't want to make effects, that I wanted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scofield/i-found-at-this-point-that-effective-acting-wasn-t-what-i-wanted-to/) [Paul Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scofield/) > [As you get older, the more you know, so the more nervous you become. The risks are much bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scofield/as-you-get-older-the-more-you-know-so-the-more-nervous-you-become-the/) [Paul Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scofield/) > [What these books have conclusively proven is that the diffence between men and women is exactly 38 pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scofield/what-these-books-have-conclusively-proven-is-that-the-diffence/) [Paul Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scofield/) > [Oh, I suppose my wife and I will open a bottle of champagne with another couple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scofield/oh-i-suppose-my-wife-and-i-will-open-a-bottle-of-champagne-with/) [Paul Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scofield/) > [It isn't difficult to leave King Lear or Macbeth, but once you have gone back to yourself, you want it to be the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scofield/it-isn-t-difficult-to-leave-king-lear-or-macbeth-but-once-you-have/) [Paul Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scofield/) > [Sixty-four thousand dollars for a question, I hope they are asking you the meaning of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scofield/sixty-four-thousand-dollars-for-a-question-i-hope-they-are-asking-you/) [Paul Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scofield/) > [I decided a long time ago I didn't want to be a star personality and live my life out in public. I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scofield/i-decided-a-long-time-ago-i-didn-t-want-to-be-a-star-personality-and/) [Paul Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scofield/) > [I should in fairness add that my taste in music is reputedly deplorable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scofield/i-should-in-fairness-add-that-my-taste-in-music-is-reputedly/) [Paul Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scofield/) > [Cheating on a quiz show? That's sort of like plagiarizing a comic strip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scofield/cheating-on-a-quiz-show-that-s-sort-of-like-plagiarizing-a-comic-strip/) [Paul Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scofield/) > [The Actor should make you forget the existence of author and director, and even forget the actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scofield/the-actor-should-make-you-forget-the-existence-of-author-and-director/) [Paul Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scofield/) > [A painting means as much to you as a string of pearls to an ape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scofield/a-painting-means-as-much-to-you-as-a-string-of-pearls-to-an-ape/) [Paul Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scofield/) > [King Lear is undoubtedly the greatest play ever written by Shakespeare — or anybody else for that matter. Hamlet is certainly great, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scofield/king-lear-is-undoubtedly-the-greatest-play-ever-written-by/) [Paul Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scofield/) > [Privacy is not negotiable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scofield/privacy-is-not-negotiable/) [Paul Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scofield/) [Explore all 14 Paul Scofield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scofield/) ## More Appreciate quotes > [All I hear is the people that appreciate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/all-i-hear-is-the-people-that-appreciate-me/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. We love to write, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukimi-nagano/i-think-that-kind-of-balance-comes-with-the-process-of-growing/) [Yukimi Nagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukimi-nagano/) > [Time is really gold,spent it wisely with the people around you.Spread love,appreciate the beauty around you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jglargosta/time-is-really-gold-spent-it-wisely-with-the-people-around-you-spread/) [Jglargosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jglargosta/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Eventually the consumer will come to appreciate the editorial point of view of every different brand. User-generated content without editorial oversight will simply be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eisner/eventually-the-consumer-will-come-to-appreciate-the-editorial-point/) [Michael Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eisner/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) J. Willard Gibbs > [This time, there were no drugs involved. The hours were completely normal daytime hours. I think we were able to appreciate the interplay, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/this-time-there-were-no-drugs-involved-the-hours-were-completely/) [Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/) > [I would like beautiful gymnastics to be recognized as the best. I want the judges to appreciate things that are not necessarily winning points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kohei-uchimura/i-would-like-beautiful-gymnastics-to-be-recognized-as-the-best-i-want/) [Kohei Uchimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kohei-uchimura/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [It's great at this stage in my life to still be in the running, that people appreciate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/it-s-great-at-this-stage-in-my-life-to-still-be-in-the-running-that/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Love is too wonderful for us but why we often times do not ever appreciate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamad-idrus/love-is-too-wonderful-for-us-but-why-we-often-times-do-not-ever/) [Mohamad Idrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamad-idrus/) > [I think the most important thing is to stay hopeful, to believe wonderful things are possible and do your best. 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