--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I keep collecting books I know I'll…" description: "\"“I keep collecting books I know I'll never, never read; My wife and daughter tell me so, And yet I never heed. \"Please make me,\" says some wistful tome..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/robert-w-service-17575_book-lover_i-keep-collecting-books-i-know-i-ll-neve_45421.jpg" --- # I keep collecting books I know I'll never, never read; My… ![“I keep collecting books I know I'll never, never read; My wife and daughter tell me so, And yet I never heed. "Please make me," says some wistful tome, "A wee bit of yourself." And so I take my treasure home, And tuck it in a shelf. And now my very shelves complain; They jam and over-spill. They…” quote by Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/robert-w-service-17575_book-lover_i-keep-collecting-books-i-know-i-ll-neve_45421.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/robert-w-service-17575_book-lover_i-keep-collecting-books-i-know-i-ll-neve_45421.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/robert-w-service-17575_book-lover_i-keep-collecting-books-i-know-i-ll-neve_45421.jpg) > ““I keep collecting books I know I'll never, never read; My wife and daughter tell me so, And yet I never heed. "Please make me," says some wistful tome, "A wee bit of yourself." And so I take my treasure home, And tuck it in a shelf. And now my very shelves complain; They jam and over-spill. They say: "Why don't you ease our strain?" "Some day," I say, "I will." So book by book they plead and sigh; I pick and dip and scan; Then put them back, distressed that I Am such a busy man. Now, there's my Boswell and my Sterne, my Gibbon and Defoe; To savor Swift I'll never learn, Montaigne I may not know. On Bacon I will never sup, For Shakespeare I've no time; Because I'm busy making up These jingly bits of rhyme. Chekov is caviar to me, While Stendhal makes me snore; Poor Proust is not my cup of tea, And Balzac is a bore. I have their books, I love their names, And yet alas! they head, With Lawrence, Joyce and Henry James, My Roster of Unread. I think it would be very well If I commit a crime, And get put in a prison cell And not allowed to rhyme; Yet given all these worthy books According to my need, I now caress with loving looks, But never, never read." (from, Book Lover)”” [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A lamentation of hoarding books without reading them, exposing the paradox of valuing knowledge while neglecting its consumption. **In simple terms:** Collecting unread books as a status symbol. Key Takeaway Possession without engagement. Themes Intellectual vanity Procrastination Consumerism Self‑deception Cultural capital Mood Wistful Self‑critical Type Self‑reflective Satirical When to use this quote - A scholar with a packed shelf - A busy professional buying books - A collector displaying titles Key Concepts Reading vs. owning Time scarcity Self‑image Practical Applications - Encourage deliberate reading habits - Design minimalist libraries Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to acquire books you never read? - How could you transform your collection into a reading plan? A Different Perspective The act of collecting can inspire future reading, turning shelves into a roadmap rather than a burden. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book lover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-lover/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Busy man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy-man/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Cup of tea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cup-of-tea/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Wife and daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife-and-daughter/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“Talk away. If you bore us, we have books." With this invitation Rickie began to relate his history. The reader who has no book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/talk-away-if-you-bore-us-we-have-books-with-this-invitation-rickie/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [The profit of books is according to the sensibility of the reader. The profoundest thought or passion sleeps as in a mine, until an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-profit-of-books-is-according-to-the-sensibility-of-the-reader-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-i-saw-the-dead-small-and-great-stand-before-god-and-the-books/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [Tis the good reader that makes the good book; in every book he finds passages which seem confidences or asides hidden from all else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/tis-the-good-reader-that-makes-the-good-book-in-every-book-he-finds/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No matter how busy a man is, he is never too busy to stop and talk about how busy he is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/no-matter-how-busy-a-man-is-he-is-never-too-busy-to-stop-and-talk/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [A man bumps me on his busy way without so much as an apology. But that is all right. I forgive you, busy man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/a-man-bumps-me-on-his-busy-way-without-so-much-as-an-apology-but-that/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [When I was growing up, my father was naturally a very busy man and was not around for long periods of time. Despite that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananya-birla/when-i-was-growing-up-my-father-was-naturally-a-very-busy-man-and-was/) [Ananya Birla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananya-birla/) > [Snoop is a busy man, he's on it. I try to stay on it in my lane and we always find a way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-real/snoop-is-a-busy-man-he-s-on-it-i-try-to-stay-on-it-in-my-lane-and-we/) [B-Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-real/) > [“You were a busy man, " she whispers, regret filling every word because she knows she bears the same guilt. "And now Ted is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-backman/you-were-a-busy-man-she-whispers-regret-filling-every-word-because/) [Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/) > [The busy man has few idle visitors; to the boiling pot the flies come not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-busy-man-has-few-idle-visitors-to-the-boiling-pot-the-flies-come/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [If you want to get something done, give it to a busy man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-want-to-get-something-done-give-it-to-a-busy-man/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [As I walked in the woods to see the birds and squirrels, so I walked in the village to see the men and boys;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-i-walked-in-the-woods-to-see-the-birds-and-squirrels-so-i-walked/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A busy man is someone who doesn't find 24 hours enough to do his work. But for me, even after I finish my work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prakash-raj/a-busy-man-is-someone-who-doesn-t-find-24-hours-enough-to-do-his-work/) [Prakash Raj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prakash-raj/) > [The busy man seems to have time for everything; the man who just thinks he is busy doesn't have time for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/the-busy-man-seems-to-have-time-for-everything-the-man-who-just/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Letter-writing on the part of a busy man or woman is the quintessence of generosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/letter-writing-on-the-part-of-a-busy-man-or-woman-is-the-quintessence/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) ## More by Robert W. Service > [“The Call of the Wild They have cradled you in custom, they have primed you with their preaching, They have soaked you in convention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/the-call-of-the-wild-they-have-cradled-you-in-custom-they-have-primed/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [Just draw on your grit; it's so easy to quit - It's the keeping your chin up that's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/just-draw-on-your-grit-it-s-so-easy-to-quit-it-s-the-keeping-your/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [When children's children shall talk of War as a madness that may not be; When we thank our God for our grief today, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/when-children-s-children-shall-talk-of-war-as-a-madness-that-may-not/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [The happy man is he who knows his limitations, yet bows to no false gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/the-happy-man-is-he-who-knows-his-limitations-yet-bows-to-no-false/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [This is the law of the Yukon, that only the strong shall thrive; that surely the weak shall perish, and only the fit survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/this-is-the-law-of-the-yukon-that-only-the-strong-shall-thrive-that/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [Now a promise made is a debt unpaid, and the trail has its own stern code.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/now-a-promise-made-is-a-debt-unpaid-and-the-trail-has-its-own-stern/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [It's easy to fight when everything's right And you're mad with the thrill and the glory; It's easy to cheer when victory's near, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/it-s-easy-to-fight-when-everything-s-right-and-you-re-mad-with-the/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [It's the steady, quiet, plodding ones who win in the lifelong race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/it-s-the-steady-quiet-plodding-ones-who-win-in-the-lifelong-race/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [Alas! the road to Anywhere is pitfalled with disaster; There's hunger, want, and weariness, yet O we loved it so! As on we tramped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/alas-the-road-to-anywhere-is-pitfalled-with-disaster-there-s-hunger/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [Then you've a hunch what the music meant . . . hunger and night and the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/then-you-ve-a-hunch-what-the-music-meant-hunger-and-night-and-the/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [“A half-dead thing in a stark, dead world, clean mad for the muck called gold; While high overhead, green, yellow and red, the North…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/a-half-dead-thing-in-a-stark-dead-world-clean-mad-for-the-muck-called/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [“There are strange things done in the midnight sun By the men who moil for gold; The Arctic trails have their secret tales That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/there-are-strange-things-done-in-the-midnight-sun-by-the-men-who-moil/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [“There’s gold, and it’s haunting and haunting; It’s luring me on as of old; Yet it isn’t the gold that I’m wanting So much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/there-s-gold-and-it-s-haunting-and-haunting-it-s-luring-me-on-as-of/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [“ The Quitter When you're lost in the Wild, and you're scared as a child, And Death looks you bang in the eye, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/the-quitter-when-you-re-lost-in-the-wild-and-you-re-scared-as-a-child/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [Be sure your wisest words are those you do not say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/be-sure-your-wisest-words-are-those-you-do-not-say/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) [Explore all 35 Robert W. Service quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) ## More Book lover quotes > [The more I like a book, the more reluctant I am to turn the page. Lovers, even book lovers, tend to cling. No one-night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-broyard/the-more-i-like-a-book-the-more-reluctant-i-am-to-turn-the-page/) [Anatole Broyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-broyard/) > [We expect a great man to be a good reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-expect-a-great-man-to-be-a-good-reader/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“He pinched the remaining chapters’ pages delicately between his fingers and sighed. He always hated reaching the end of a good book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-e-zapanta/he-pinched-the-remaining-chapters-pages-delicately-between-his/) [David S.E. Zapanta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-e-zapanta/) > [“If you can't write, read. If you can't read, walk. Or walk and read, then write.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-rachelle/if-you-can-t-write-read-if-you-can-t-read-walk-or-walk-and-read-then/) [Joyce Rachelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-rachelle/) > [“Time flies but books are timeless...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nanette-l-avery/time-flies-but-books-are-timeless/) [Nanette L. Avery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nanette-l-avery/) > [I always get lost in the library,' he said, 'no matter how many times I go. In fact, I think I get lost there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/i-always-get-lost-in-the-library-he-said-no-matter-how-many-times-i/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [Our clients' faces, with the customary outward paleness and inner glow of the book lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/our-clients-faces-with-the-customary-outward-paleness-and-inner-glow/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [“I am a passionate reader. New interested books keep adding on my reading list. My wildest dream is to complete reading all the books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/i-am-a-passionate-reader-new-interested-books-keep-adding-on-my/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [It is significant that one says book lover and music lover and art lover but not record lover or CD lover or, conversely, text…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/it-is-significant-that-one-says-book-lover-and-music-lover-and-art/) [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) > [Books are the quietest and most constant of friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-william-eliot/books-are-the-quietest-and-most-constant-of-friends/) [Charles William Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-william-eliot/) > [I was a movie freak before I was a book lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-was-a-movie-freak-before-i-was-a-book-lover/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [We should choose our books as we would our companions, for their sterling and intrinsic merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-should-choose-our-books-as-we-would-our-companions-for-their/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [“I have only dwelt in my thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/i-have-only-dwelt-in-my-thoughts/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [When I look at my room, I see a girl who loves books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/when-i-look-at-my-room-i-see-a-girl-who-loves-books/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Book lovers will understand me, and they will know too that part of the pleasure of a library lies in its very existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-morris/book-lovers-will-understand-me-and-they-will-know-too-that-part-of/) [Jan Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-morris/) [Browse all 95 Book lover quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-lover/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I keep collecting books I know I'll never, never read; My wife and daughter tell me so, And yet I never heed. \"Please make me,\" says some wistful tome, \"A wee bit of yourself.\" And so I take my treasure home, And tuck it in a shelf. And now my very shelves complain; They jam and over-spill. They say: \"Why don't you ease our strain?\" \"Some day,\" I say, \"I will.\" So book by book they plead and sigh; I pick and dip and scan; Then put them back, distressed that I Am such a busy man. Now, there's my Boswell and my Sterne, my Gibbon and Defoe; To savor Swift I'll never learn, Montaigne I may not know. On Bacon I will never sup, For Shakespeare I've no time; Because I'm busy making up These jingly bits of rhyme. Chekov is caviar to me, While Stendhal makes me snore; Poor Proust is not my cup of tea, And Balzac is a bore. I have their books, I love their names, And yet alas! they head, With Lawrence, Joyce and Henry James, My Roster of Unread. I think it would be very well If I commit a crime, And get put in a prison cell And not allowed to rhyme; Yet given all these worthy books According to my need, I now caress with loving looks, But never, never read.\" (from, Book Lover)”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert W. 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