Books Quote by Robertson Davies
““She herself was a victim of that lust for books which rages in the breast like a demon, and which cannot be stilled save by the frequent and plentiful acquisition of books. This passion is more common, and more powerful, than most people suppose. Book lovers are thought by unbookish people to be gentle and unworldly, and perhaps a few of them are so. But there are others who will lie and scheme and steal to get books as wildly and unconscionably as the dope-taker in pursuit of his drug. They may not want the books to read immediately, or at all; they want them to possess, to range on their shelves, to have at command.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Rebel Angels by Robertson Davies, 1981
A love of books can become an obsessive, compulsive drive, leading people to acquire books for possession rather than reading.
In simple terms: Book obsession can turn into a compulsive need to own.
Key Takeaway
Recognize when collecting becomes unhealthy.
Themes
obsession
literature
materialism
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
literary
psychological
When to use this quote
- personal libraries
- academic research
- gift giving
- bookstore inventory
- digital vs physical collections
Key Concepts
psychology
compulsion
collecting
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you collect books for reading or for status?
- How does this drive affect your relationship with literature?
A Different Perspective
May overlook the joy of reading and foster wasteful spending.
![“There was another reason [she] took her books whenever they went away. They were her home when she was somewhere strange. They were familiar voices, friends that never quarreled with her, clever, powerful friends -- daring and knowledgeable, tried and tested adventurers who had traveled far and…” quote by Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/639/cornelia-funke-908_adventurer_there-was-another-reason-she-took-her-bo_3074.jpg)
