--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Books were rare,expensive, time-consuming…" description: "\"Books were rare,expensive, time-consuming to create and copy, and difficult to transport. That is why collections ofprint-based books developed around ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/tom-peters-967_belief_books-were-rare-expensive-time-consuming_614320.jpg" --- # Books were rare,expensive, time-consuming to create and… ![“Books were rare,expensive, time-consuming to create and copy, and difficult to transport. That is why collections ofprint-based books developed around centers of religious belief, learning, and wealth. It was cheaper andeasier for people to come to the collection than for the collection, or parts…” quote by Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/tom-peters-967_belief_books-were-rare-expensive-time-consuming_614320.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/tom-peters-967_belief_books-were-rare-expensive-time-consuming_614320.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/tom-peters-967_belief_books-were-rare-expensive-time-consuming_614320.jpg) > “Books were rare,expensive, time-consuming to create and copy, and difficult to transport. That is why collections ofprint-based books developed around centers of religious belief, learning, and wealth. It was cheaper andeasier for people to come to the collection than for the collection, or parts of the collection, to go to thepeople.” [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Printing technology limited book distribution, so libraries formed near centers of faith, learning, and wealth to make knowledge accessible. **In simple terms:** Books were hard to copy, so libraries gathered them near people. Key Takeaway Create shared resources to reduce distribution costs. Themes knowledge access centralization resource sharing Mood reflective inquisitive optimistic Type historical informational contextual When to use this quote - academic research - public libraries - digital archiving - educational outreach Key Concepts economics of publishing information diffusion Questions to Reflect On - How can modern tech emulate the community role of historic libraries? - What new central hubs are emerging for digital knowledge? A Different Perspective Digital media now allows distribution, reducing need for physical centralization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-belief/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“People who still read books were a rare breed—and becoming more rare all the time. God Bless the readers of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-fenton/people-who-still-read-books-were-a-rare-breed-and-becoming-more-rare/) [Richard Fenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-fenton/) > [I think successful movies that are based on books are their own thing. I think if you're too faithful, word by word, character trait…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-think-successful-movies-that-are-based-on-books-are-their-own-thing/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [I have found that each of my books has developed out of something I have written in a previous book. Some thought evidently unfinished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-kinnan-rawlings/i-have-found-that-each-of-my-books-has-developed-out-of-something-i/) [Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-kinnan-rawlings/) > [“as if people read books then developed ideas, not wondering whether perhaps it is the other way around; people look for books that support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-if-people-read-books-then-developed-ideas-not-wondering-whether/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Great books are rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hacking/great-books-are-rare/) [Ian Hacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hacking/) > [Some of my own books are being developed - one as a Broadway musical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/some-of-my-own-books-are-being-developed-one-as-a-broadway-musical/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [“Books about books are a rare species, special tomes for writers and book lovers. More than an affirmation of taste, a book about books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cardamone/books-about-books-are-a-rare-species-special-tomes-for-writers-and/) [Tom Cardamone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cardamone/) > [A few of my books, over the years, have been optioned for film. The subject matter of my books, however, is not exactly conducive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-laymon/a-few-of-my-books-over-the-years-have-been-optioned-for-film-the/) [Richard Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-laymon/) > [Your experiences should not be based on books. You dont need others opinions in order ti create your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/your-experiences-should-not-be-based-on-books-you-dont-need-others/) [Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/) > [I think training your instinct comes from writing and reading. There's no big secret. And reading slush helps, as well; I'd recommend everyone edit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-think-training-your-instinct-comes-from-writing-and-reading-there-s/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [Writing is a creatively rewarding occupation but for me very time consuming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/writing-is-a-creatively-rewarding-occupation-but-for-me-very-time/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [Shooting stuff on horseback is more complicated and time consuming than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-addy/shooting-stuff-on-horseback-is-more-complicated-and-time-consuming/) [Mark Addy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-addy/) > [ There are about 50 or 60 recommendations \[in "Win"\] for how to communicate, not just the words themselves. All of them had to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-luntz/there-are-about-50-or-60-recommendations-in-win-for-how-to/) [Frank Luntz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-luntz/) > [It never ends,It hurts! Its painful,Miserable and Time consuming! I hate it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazzy/it-never-ends-it-hurts-its-painful-miserable-and-time-consuming-i/) [Jazzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazzy/) > [If we were truly in the studio making a record, it would have been more time consuming, and certainly I would have been more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-dayne/if-we-were-truly-in-the-studio-making-a-record-it-would-have-been/) [Taylor Dayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-dayne/) ## More by Tom Peters > [The market may never coalesce around one basic design, or even around two or three dominant devices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/the-market-may-never-coalesce-around-one-basic-design-or-even-around/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Anybody who is an entrepreneur is a person who essentially has impaired judgment. The odds of success are zilch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/anybody-who-is-an-entrepreneur-is-a-person-who-essentially-has/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Remember my mantra: distinct... or extinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/remember-my-mantra-distinct-or-extinct/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [A good collection is more than just the sum of its parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/a-good-collection-is-more-than-just-the-sum-of-its-parts/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Leaders' careers will usually be determined by their handling of one or two critical events that no one could possibly anticipate or plan for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/leaders-careers-will-usually-be-determined-by-their-handling-of-one/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [I don't know what it means to manage the human imagination, but I do know that imagination is the main source of value in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/i-don-t-know-what-it-means-to-manage-the-human-imagination-but-i-do/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Hire disrespectful people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/hire-disrespectful-people/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Hire for attitude. Train for skill... More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/hire-for-attitude-train-for-skill-more/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [If there is a single tragic flaw that mars our biggest enterprises, it is conservatism - the failure to fail, and fail big, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-there-is-a-single-tragic-flaw-that-mars-our-biggest-enterprises-it/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Think about the market, think about the design, and think about who is going to design for that market. Hit the mark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/think-about-the-market-think-about-the-design-and-think-about-who-is/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [“The “Excellence Standard” is not about Grand Outcomes. In Zenlike terms, all we have is today. If the day’s work cannot be assessed as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/the-excellence-standard-is-not-about-grand-outcomes-in-zenlike-terms/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [The day firing becomes easy is the day to fire yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/the-day-firing-becomes-easy-is-the-day-to-fire-yourself/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Only pissed-off people change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/only-pissed-off-people-change-the-world/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [What you decide not to do is probably more important that what you decide to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/what-you-decide-not-to-do-is-probably-more-important-that-what-you/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) [Explore all 316 Tom Peters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Books were rare,expensive, time-consuming to create and copy, and difficult to transport. That is why collections ofprint-based books developed around centers of religious belief, learning, and wealth. 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