--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A collector recently bought at public…" description: "\"A collector recently bought at public auction, in London, for one hundred and fifty-seven guineas, an autograph of Shakespeare; but for nothing a schoo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_auctions_a-collector-recently-bought-at-public-au_2638689.png" --- # A collector recently bought at public auction, in London… ![“A collector recently bought at public auction, in London, for one hundred and fifty-seven guineas, an autograph of Shakespeare; but for nothing a school-boy can read Hamlet and can detect secrets of highest concernment yet unpublished therein.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_auctions_a-collector-recently-bought-at-public-au_2638689.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_auctions_a-collector-recently-bought-at-public-au_2638689.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_auctions_a-collector-recently-bought-at-public-au_2638689.png) > “A collector recently bought at public auction, in London, for one hundred and fifty-seven guineas, an autograph of Shakespeare; but for nothing a school-boy can read Hamlet and can detect secrets of highest concernment yet unpublished therein.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The value of a rare autograph is insignificant compared to the insight any reader can gain from a classic text. **In simple terms:** Reading reveals deeper truths than owning artifacts. Key Takeaway Prioritize learning over collecting. Themes knowledge literature humility Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - personal growth - literary study Key Concepts critical reading interpretation Questions to Reflect On - What can you learn from a book that a prized object cannot teach? - How does personal study outweigh ownership? A Different Perspective Collectibles may distract from true insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Auctions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auctions/) [Autographs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autographs/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Collectors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectors/) [Guinea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guinea/) [Hamlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamlet/) [London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/london/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) ## Related quotes > [“I’ve read Hamlet, I know men suffer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/i-ve-read-hamlet-i-know-men-suffer/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) > [“I will have the children read Hamlet as soon as it is practical. There are some useful cautions against eavesdropping to be gleaned from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryrose-wood/i-will-have-the-children-read-hamlet-as-soon-as-it-is-practical-there/) [maryrose wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryrose-wood/) > [The funny thing with Ophelia is that I remembered her being this really cool, awesome female character when I read 'Hamlet' in high school,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-north/the-funny-thing-with-ophelia-is-that-i-remembered-her-being-this/) [Ryan North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-north/) > [Once they witnessed one of his painting sold at auction for $100,000. And asked how you do it, he said, 'I feel as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-degas/once-they-witnessed-one-of-his-painting-sold-at-auction-for-100-000/) [Edgar Degas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-degas/) > [Scott has to be one of the most talented artists I've ever seen. He really captures his subjects in a unique way. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lilly/scott-has-to-be-one-of-the-most-talented-artists-i-ve-ever-seen-he/) [Bob Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lilly/) > [ If you didn't auction the \[CO2\] permits, it would represent the largest corporate welfare program that has ever been enacted in the history of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-orszag/if-you-didn-t-auction-the-co2-permits-it-would-represent-the-largest/) Peter R. Orszag > [Publication - is the auction of the mind...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/publication-is-the-auction-of-the-mind/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [I don't know much about auctions. I sometimes go to previews and see art sardined into ugly rooms. I've gawked at the gaudy prices,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/i-don-t-know-much-about-auctions-i-sometimes-go-to-previews-and-see/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [A tipping point is invisible, as we just saw in Greece. In most situations, everything appears fine until it's not fine, until, for example,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/a-tipping-point-is-invisible-as-we-just-saw-in-greece-in-most/) [Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/) > [I am not opposed to the art market. I have lots of friends who are collectors. But the whole idea of the art market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olafur-eliasson/i-am-not-opposed-to-the-art-market-i-have-lots-of-friends-who-are/) [Olafur Eliasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olafur-eliasson/) > [The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-government-consists-of-a-gang-of-men-exactly-like-you-and-me-they/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [In all fairness to the auction companies ? most companies are not car experts, they are marketers. I caution buyers to make sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman-m-d/in-all-fairness-to-the-auction-companies-most-companies-are-not-car/) [Mark Hyman, M.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman-m-d/) > [The book of the moment often has immense vogue, while the book of the age, which comes in its company from the press, lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-wright-mabie/the-book-of-the-moment-often-has-immense-vogue-while-the-book-of-the/) [Hamilton Wright Mabie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-wright-mabie/) > [It is not the time to put school districts up for auction. Now is the time to galvanize them into action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/it-is-not-the-time-to-put-school-districts-up-for-auction-now-is-the/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [War's an auction where whoever can pay the most in damage and still be standing wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/war-s-an-auction-where-whoever-can-pay-the-most-in-damage-and-still/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Auctions quotes > [War's an auction where whoever can pay the most in damage and still be standing wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/war-s-an-auction-where-whoever-can-pay-the-most-in-damage-and-still/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [It is not the time to put school districts up for auction. Now is the time to galvanize them into action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hargreaves/it-is-not-the-time-to-put-school-districts-up-for-auction-now-is-the/) [Andy Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hargreaves/) > [The book of the moment often has immense vogue, while the book of the age, which comes in its company from the press, lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-wright-mabie/the-book-of-the-moment-often-has-immense-vogue-while-the-book-of-the/) [Hamilton Wright Mabie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-wright-mabie/) > [In all fairness to the auction companies ? most companies are not car experts, they are marketers. I caution buyers to make sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hyman-m-d/in-all-fairness-to-the-auction-companies-most-companies-are-not-car/) [Mark Hyman, M.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hyman-m-d/) > [The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-government-consists-of-a-gang-of-men-exactly-like-you-and-me-they/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I am not opposed to the art market. I have lots of friends who are collectors. But the whole idea of the art market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olafur-eliasson/i-am-not-opposed-to-the-art-market-i-have-lots-of-friends-who-are/) [Olafur Eliasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olafur-eliasson/) > [A tipping point is invisible, as we just saw in Greece. In most situations, everything appears fine until it's not fine, until, for example,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/a-tipping-point-is-invisible-as-we-just-saw-in-greece-in-most/) [Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/) > [I don't know much about auctions. I sometimes go to previews and see art sardined into ugly rooms. I've gawked at the gaudy prices,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/i-don-t-know-much-about-auctions-i-sometimes-go-to-previews-and-see/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [Publication - is the auction of the mind...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/publication-is-the-auction-of-the-mind/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [ If you didn't auction the \[CO2\] permits, it would represent the largest corporate welfare program that has ever been enacted in the history of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-orszag/if-you-didn-t-auction-the-co2-permits-it-would-represent-the-largest/) Peter R. Orszag > [Scott has to be one of the most talented artists I've ever seen. He really captures his subjects in a unique way. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lilly/scott-has-to-be-one-of-the-most-talented-artists-i-ve-ever-seen-he/) [Bob Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lilly/) > [Once they witnessed one of his painting sold at auction for $100,000. And asked how you do it, he said, 'I feel as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-degas/once-they-witnessed-one-of-his-painting-sold-at-auction-for-100-000/) [Edgar Degas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-degas/) > [People were doing business with one another through the Internet already, through bulletin boards. But on the Web, we could make it interactive, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/people-were-doing-business-with-one-another-through-the-internet/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [Can you imagine a demon auction? Serial killer going once...twice...sold to the drama queen at the corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/can-you-imagine-a-demon-auction-serial-killer-going-once-twice-sold/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The right-of-centre parties still often compete with left-of-centre ones to proclaim their attachment to all the main programmes of spending, particularly spending on social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/the-right-of-centre-parties-still-often-compete-with-left-of-centre/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) [Browse all 84 Auctions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auctions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A collector recently bought at public auction, in London, for one hundred and fifty-seven guineas, an autograph of Shakespeare; but for nothing a school-boy can read Hamlet and can detect secrets of highest concernment yet unpublished therein.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-collector-recently-bought-at-public-auction-in-london-for-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Auctions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-collector-recently-bought-at-public-auction-in-london-for-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_auctions_a-collector-recently-bought-at-public-au_2638689.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_auctions_a-collector-recently-bought-at-public-au_2638689.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_auctions_a-collector-recently-bought-at-public-au_2638689.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A collector recently bought at public auction, in London, for one hundred and fifty-seven guineas, an…” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A collector recently bought at public...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-collector-recently-bought-at-public-auction-in-london-for-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-collector-recently-bought-at-public-auction-in-london-for-one/#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 } } ] } ```