Book Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“I suppose every old scholar has had the experience of reading something in a book which was significant to him, but which he could never find again. Sure he is that he read it there, but no one else ever read it, nor can he find it again, though he buy the book and ransack every page.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Self-Reliance, 1841
A scholar often reads a meaningful passage that later becomes elusive, despite thorough searching.
In simple terms: Lost knowledge despite effort.
Key Takeaway
Document insights promptly.
Themes
memory
literature
search
frustration
ephemeral
Mood
reflective
nostalgic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- personal reading
- archival practices
- library use
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
information loss
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we better preserve personal discoveries?
- What tools aid in recalling specific passages?
A Different Perspective
The quote assumes the loss is personal, ignoring external factors like poor indexing.
