Books Quote by Robert Louis Stevenson
““Certainly, if money could have been raised upon the book, Robert Herrick would long ago have sacrificed that last possession: but the demand for literature, which is so marked a feature in some parts of the South Seas, extends not so far as the dead tongues; and the Virgil, which he could not exchange against a meal had often consoled him in his hunger. He would study it, as he lay with tightened belt on the floor of the old calaboose, seeking favourite passages and finding new ones only less beautiful because they lacked the consecration of remembrance. The Ebb-Tide ””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Ebb-Tide (short story collection) by Robert Louis Stevenson, 1893
The passage reflects on the value of literature versus material needs, noting that even a poor man would cherish books, though poverty can diminish their impact.
In simple terms: Books are treasured even in poverty, but hunger can lessen their joy.
Key Takeaway
Value literature, but address basic needs.
Themes
literature
poverty
value
memory
survival
Mood
reflective
melancholic
hopeful
Type
observational
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- prison life
- remote islands
- economic hardship
- educational access
Key Concepts
human need
cultural heritage
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does scarcity change our relationship with art?
- Can literature sustain hope in hardship?
A Different Perspective
Even with deep appreciation, extreme scarcity can limit the enjoyment of art.
![“You [Virgil] were the lamp that led me from that night. You led me forth to drink Parnassian waters;” quote by Louis Markos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/664/louis-markos-53523_night_you-virgil-were-the-lamp-that-led-me-fro_841721.jpg)
