--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Guards are of no use in a library. Oh…" description: "\"“Guards are of no use in a library. Oh, how wrong he was! Libraries were full of ideas—perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.”\" — Sara..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/sarah-j-maas-58_libraries_guards-are-of-no-use-in-a-library-oh-how_223455.png" --- # Guards are of no use in a library. Oh, how wrong he was!… ![“Guards are of no use in a library. Oh, how wrong he was! Libraries were full of ideas—perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.” quote by Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/sarah-j-maas-58_libraries_guards-are-of-no-use-in-a-library-oh-how_223455.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/sarah-j-maas-58_libraries_guards-are-of-no-use-in-a-library-oh-how_223455.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/sarah-j-maas-58_libraries_guards-are-of-no-use-in-a-library-oh-how_223455.png) > ““Guards are of no use in a library. Oh, how wrong he was! Libraries were full of ideas—perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.”” [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Libraries hold ideas, which are powerful weapons; dismissing them is a grave mistake. **In simple terms:** Ideas are powerful weapons. Key Takeaway Protect and value ideas. Themes knowledge power responsibility Mood thoughtful serious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - education policy - media literacy - creative writing - activism Key Concepts information theory intellectual freedom Questions to Reflect On - How can we safeguard ideas? - What responsibilities come with knowledge? A Different Perspective Ideas can be misused or suppressed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Libraries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libraries/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“Why are none of your folk here?” “Guards are of no use in a library.” Oh, how wrong he was! Libraries were full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/why-are-none-of-your-folk-here-guards-are-of-no-use-in-a-library-oh/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [Libraries were full of ideas-perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/libraries-were-full-of-ideas-perhaps-the-most-dangerous-and-powerful/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [If you're grappling with punches involved, you start realizing you only use certain guards. There are 3-4 different guards that you use - half-guard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beneil-dariush/if-you-re-grappling-with-punches-involved-you-start-realizing-you/) [Beneil Dariush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beneil-dariush/) > [There's nothing more dangerous than a powerful person who is imagining themselves as being powerless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-green/there-s-nothing-more-dangerous-than-a-powerful-person-who-is/) [Hank Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-green/) > [“The anonymity of the internet is a dangerous but powerful thing - to any fool who will listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-bartlett/the-anonymity-of-the-internet-is-a-dangerous-but-powerful-thing-to/) P.S. Bartlett > [ Probably the most dangerous and powerful industrialist of our age. \[About Bill Gates\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcnealy/probably-the-most-dangerous-and-powerful-industrialist-of-our-age/) [Scott McNealy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcnealy/) > [Ideas are sometimes dangerous, because it only leads to action, where the action leads, no man can say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-kermis/ideas-are-sometimes-dangerous-because-it-only-leads-to-action-where/) [Samuel Kermis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-kermis/) > [“Ideas are not dangerous unless they find seeding place in some earth more profound than the mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/ideas-are-not-dangerous-unless-they-find-seeding-place-in-some-earth/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“Ideas are more dangerous than missiles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/ideas-are-more-dangerous-than-missiles/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [“Lupin, like Mr. Huttle, has original and sometimes wonderful ideas; but it is those ideas that are so dangerous.  They make men extremely rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-grossmith/lupin-like-mr-huttle-has-original-and-sometimes-wonderful-ideas-but/) [George Grossmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-grossmith/) > [In the life of a nation, few ideas are more dangerous than good solutions to the wrong problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/in-the-life-of-a-nation-few-ideas-are-more-dangerous-than-good/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [“Everything I know, everything I put in my fiction, will hurt someone somewhere as surely as it will comfort and enlighten someone else. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/everything-i-know-everything-i-put-in-my-fiction-will-hurt-someone/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Ideas are more dangerous than an unsheathed sword in this world, half of them are forbidden, the other half would lead a man to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/ideas-are-more-dangerous-than-an-unsheathed-sword-in-this-world-half/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [Ideas are dangerous, but the man to whom they are least dangerous is the man of ideas. He is acquainted with ideas, and moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/ideas-are-dangerous-but-the-man-to-whom-they-are-least-dangerous-is/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Killing for ideas is the most dangerous form of killing at all. Being willing to die for your ideas rather than your country is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-jagger/killing-for-ideas-is-the-most-dangerous-form-of-killing-at-all-being/) [Mick Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-jagger/) ## More by Sarah J. Maas > [“Light it up, bitch.' 'Light it up, asshole,' ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/light-it-up-bitch-light-it-up-asshole/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“What does he look like? The question was soft- tentative. I knew who he meant. I interlaced my fingers through Rhysand's and squeezed tightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-does-he-look-like-the-question-was-soft-tentative-i-knew-who-he/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Lysandra chuckled, a surprisingly deep, wicked sound—probably a laugh she never let Arobynn or her clients hear. “Some night soon, I’ll sneak back in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/lysandra-chuckled-a-surprisingly-deep-wicked-sound-probably-a-laugh/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I love you. I am in love with you, Rowan. I have been for a while. And I know there are limits to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-love-you-i-am-in-love-with-you-rowan-i-have-been-for-a-while-and-i/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Perhaps Nesta will take up the blood-drinking habit, too. I certainly believe her threat to rip out my throat. Maybe she'll enjoy the taste.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/perhaps-nesta-will-take-up-the-blood-drinking-habit-too-i-certainly/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“To being the most fearsome and imposing girls the world has ever seen.” Celaena raised her goblet high before she drank. As she swallowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/to-being-the-most-fearsome-and-imposing-girls-the-world-has-ever-seen/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“have no interest in prisoners or battling today,” Manon said. The Queen of Terrasen gave her a grin. “Good.” Manon turned away, barking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/have-no-interest-in-prisoners-or-battling-today-manon-said-the-queen/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Well, I'm late for something incredibly important," Lucien said, and before I could call him on his outright lie or beg him to stay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/well-i-m-late-for-something-incredibly-important-lucien-said-and/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Holy gods. He'd frozen the whole damn lake. He was THAT powerful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/holy-gods-he-d-frozen-the-whole-damn-lake-he-was-that-powerful/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She bellowed the last word with such soul-deep hatred that he felt it like a punch to the gut.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-bellowed-the-last-word-with-such-soul-deep-hatred-that-he-felt-it/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Afraid she and I had a summer romance?" That insufferable grin was still there. "I hope you did. I certainly enjoyed myself this summer."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/afraid-she-and-i-had-a-summer-romance-that-insufferable-grin-was/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“There are different kinds of darkness,” Rhys said. I kept my eyes shut. “There is the darkness that frightens, the darkness that soothes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/there-are-different-kinds-of-darkness-rhys-said-i-kept-my-eyes-shut/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“So you’re going to ask Ress and Brullo to just leave a back door open so you can sneak in?” “Don’t be so simpleminded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/so-you-re-going-to-ask-ress-and-brullo-to-just-leave-a-back-door-open/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Gently, he pulled my hands away from my face. Gently, he took my cheeks in his hands and brushed away my tears. I didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/gently-he-pulled-my-hands-away-from-my-face-gently-he-took-my-cheeks/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I barely saw my silk slipper as it flew through the air, fast as a shooting star, so fast that even a High Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-barely-saw-my-silk-slipper-as-it-flew-through-the-air-fast-as-a/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) [Explore all 1,807 Sarah J. Maas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## More Libraries quotes > [“She might ban me from the library." "The marvelous thing about libraries is that their contents can be easily moved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alissa-johnson/she-might-ban-me-from-the-library-the-marvelous-thing-about-libraries/) [Alissa Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alissa-johnson/) > [If truth is beauty, how come no one has their hair done in a library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/if-truth-is-beauty-how-come-no-one-has-their-hair-done-in-a-library/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [Schools have never been about getting access to information. That's the job of libraries. Schools and universities have nobler missions as gentle gatekeepers. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-nikiforuk/schools-have-never-been-about-getting-access-to-information-that-s/) Andrew Nikiforuk > [“Books permit us to voyage through time, to tap the wisdom of our ancestors. The library connects us with the insight and knowledge, painfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/books-permit-us-to-voyage-through-time-to-tap-the-wisdom-of-our/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“Don't join the book burners. Don't think you're going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/don-t-join-the-book-burners-don-t-think-you-re-going-to-conceal/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Libraries hold the wisdom of the world and the stories of the ages - available to everyone, free of charge!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-sue-park/libraries-hold-the-wisdom-of-the-world-and-the-stories-of-the-ages/) [Linda Sue Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-sue-park/) > [Libraries are where we learn that we can live our lives through books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-barry/libraries-are-where-we-learn-that-we-can-live-our-lives-through-books/) [Kevin Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-barry/) > [“The library was quiet. It was busy but it was quiet and I thought it must be like this in a monastery where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/the-library-was-quiet-it-was-busy-but-it-was-quiet-and-i-thought-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“The bookworm of great libraries.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-bookworm-of-great-libraries/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Libraries are where it all begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/libraries-are-where-it-all-begins/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [I think the health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture, and our concern for the future,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/i-think-the-health-of-our-civilization-the-depth-of-our-awareness/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [There is a sad disconnectedness that overcomes a library when its owner is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/there-is-a-sad-disconnectedness-that-overcomes-a-library-when-its/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Prior to the Civil War, most libraries were either privately owned or housed in universities or churches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/prior-to-the-civil-war-most-libraries-were-either-privately-owned-or/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“The most important thing of all was not the poverty of its essence, but that it was there .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-drake/the-most-important-thing-of-all-was-not-the-poverty-of-its-essence/) [David Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-drake/) > [Libraries shelter the spirit, provide food for the mind, and answer the questions raised by the problems of life. They have been the home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberta-gellis/libraries-shelter-the-spirit-provide-food-for-the-mind-and-answer-the/) Roberta Gellis [Browse all 469 Libraries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libraries/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Guards are of no use in a library. Oh, how wrong he was! Libraries were full of ideas—perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah J. Maas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/guards-are-of-no-use-in-a-library-oh-how-wrong-he-was-libraries-were/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Libraries" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/guards-are-of-no-use-in-a-library-oh-how-wrong-he-was-libraries-were/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/sarah-j-maas-58_libraries_guards-are-of-no-use-in-a-library-oh-how_223455.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/sarah-j-maas-58_libraries_guards-are-of-no-use-in-a-library-oh-how_223455.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/sarah-j-maas-58_libraries_guards-are-of-no-use-in-a-library-oh-how_223455.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Guards are of no use in a library. Oh, how wrong he was! Libraries were full of ideas—perhaps the most…” — Sarah J. Maas", "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": "Sarah J. Maas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Guards are of no use in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/guards-are-of-no-use-in-a-library-oh-how-wrong-he-was-libraries-were/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/guards-are-of-no-use-in-a-library-oh-how-wrong-he-was-libraries-were/#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 } } ] } ```