Books Quote by Ross King
““Quite amazing how determined kings and emperors have been to destroy books. But civilization is built on such desecrations, is it not? Justinian the Great burned all of the Greek scrolls in Constantinople after he codified the Roman law and drove the Ostrogoths from Italy. And Shih Huang Ti, the first Emperor of China, the man who unified the five kingdoms and built the Great Wall, decreed that every book written before he was born should be destroyed.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Destruction of Books, Ross King, 2015
Historical leaders often destroyed knowledge to control power, yet such acts paradoxically fuel cultural rebirth.
In simple terms: Leaders burn books to control societies, but this can spark new ideas.
Key Takeaway
Preserve knowledge and question authority.
Themes
history
power
knowledge
censorship
rebirth
Mood
reflective
urgent
Type
historical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- library preservation
- academic research
- public policy
- education reform
- digital archiving
Key Concepts
politics
philosophy
culture
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives societies to erase their past?
- How can we safeguard knowledge today?
A Different Perspective
Total destruction can erase irreplaceable heritage, limiting recovery.
