--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are like books, and the world is…" description: "\"“People are like books, and the world is like a library. Some believe that it is important to be known with the most possible people, and have what we ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb7/varg-vikernes-2973_books_people-are-like-books-and-the-world-is-l_200340.png" --- # People are like books, and the world is like a library… ![“People are like books, and the world is like a library. Some believe that it is important to be known with the most possible people, and have what we call superficial relationships with mass amounts of people. If you go in a library it's not important to see the cover of the most possible books…” quote by Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb7/varg-vikernes-2973_books_people-are-like-books-and-the-world-is-l_200340.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb7/varg-vikernes-2973_books_people-are-like-books-and-the-world-is-l_200340.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb7/varg-vikernes-2973_books_people-are-like-books-and-the-world-is-l_200340.png) > ““People are like books, and the world is like a library. Some believe that it is important to be known with the most possible people, and have what we call superficial relationships with mass amounts of people. If you go in a library it's not important to see the cover of the most possible books, what you will learn if to get out a pair of interesting books and take a good amount of time to read them. Those who want to know the most possible only see the cover of many books, maybe they get as far as a few pages through the books, but they never get to read some of them. So there is actually no point in finding the books in the 1st place.”” [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote likens people to books and the world to a library, warning against superficial connections and encouraging deep, meaningful relationships over many shallow ones. **In simple terms:** Focus on deep relationships, not many shallow ones. Key Takeaway Prioritize quality over quantity in friendships. Themes relationships depth authenticity Mood contemplative thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - social media - networking events - dating - team building Key Concepts superficiality meaning connection Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance breadth and depth in your social life? - What criteria define a truly meaningful relationship? A Different Perspective Superficial connections can still provide value in certain contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [The library, I believe, is the last of our public institutions to which you can go without credentials. You don't even need the sticker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-golden/the-library-i-believe-is-the-last-of-our-public-institutions-to-which/) [Harry Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-golden/) > [As long as I can buy records and books and maybe some clothes, I'm pretty stoked. I don't need a yacht or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/as-long-as-i-can-buy-records-and-books-and-maybe-some-clothes-i-m/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [I have about 3,500 books, maybe more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martellus-bennett/i-have-about-3-500-books-maybe-more/) [Martellus Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martellus-bennett/) > [I love comic books - maybe to a fault sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zack-snyder/i-love-comic-books-maybe-to-a-fault-sometimes/) [Zack Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zack-snyder/) > [I prefer to read print books. Maybe I'm just a little old-school. I do read e-books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/i-prefer-to-read-print-books-maybe-i-m-just-a-little-old-school-i-do/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [“I've come to the realization that I really only want to write books that maybe I can't write.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-ve-come-to-the-realization-that-i-really-only-want-to-write-books/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [There's a great place for good Christian children's books. After the upcoming projects I'm working on, I'd like to turn my attention back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/there-s-a-great-place-for-good-christian-children-s-books-after-the/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [I want to collect the entire range of scientific and educational literature and make it accessible to the whole world. Just like Google Books,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elbakyan/i-want-to-collect-the-entire-range-of-scientific-and-educational/) [Alexandra Elbakyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elbakyan/) > [“The Lord has taught me so much through books. Maybe that's why I can't stop reading :)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-penland/the-lord-has-taught-me-so-much-through-books-maybe-that-s-why-i-can-t/) [Amanda Penland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-penland/) > [No, books. She would have maybe twenty going at a time, lying all over our house--on the kitchen table, by her bed, the bathroom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/no-books-she-would-have-maybe-twenty-going-at-a-time-lying-all-over/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [“I walked around the library and the library smelled like every library I had ever been in and Dewey decimals were on all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/i-walked-around-the-library-and-the-library-smelled-like-every/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [“loved coming here. It always felt so…safe. I was allowed to read any book I wanted. No one interrupted me, or if they did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wiggs/loved-coming-here-it-always-felt-so-safe-i-was-allowed-to-read-any/) [Susan Wiggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wiggs/) > [I steal things from people, characteristics, and I just stock them in my head like a library to use for characters in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mably/i-steal-things-from-people-characteristics-and-i-just-stock-them-in/) Luke Mably > [Joss's ears perked up. He loved libraries. Nowhere else in the world felt so safe and homey. Nowhere else smelled like books and dust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brewer/joss-s-ears-perked-up-he-loved-libraries-nowhere-else-in-the-world/) [Heather Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brewer/) > [“Life is what it is, a gift that is given to us for a time—like a library book—that must eventually be returned. How should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-frost/life-is-what-it-is-a-gift-that-is-given-to-us-for-a-time-like-a/) [Mark Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-frost/) ## More by Varg Vikernes > [I think metal fans are more loyal than other fans, and they are often more inclined to collect the albums of their favorite bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/i-think-metal-fans-are-more-loyal-than-other-fans-and-they-are-often/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [I have learned from my mistakes and become older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/i-have-learned-from-my-mistakes-and-become-older/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [The more I got to knew about Paganism the more Pagan I became, so to say, but I didn't really know enough until after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/the-more-i-got-to-knew-about-paganism-the-more-pagan-i-became-so-to/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [Music and improving the world are two sides of the same coin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/music-and-improving-the-world-are-two-sides-of-the-same-coin/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [I don't care much about society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/i-don-t-care-much-about-society/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [Europe really needs to wake up, cast aside the lies and get rid of the Jewish yoke we live under - once and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/europe-really-needs-to-wake-up-cast-aside-the-lies-and-get-rid-of-the/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [Only native male citizens with a wife and children, a property, and a military rank should be allowed to vote and be elected for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/only-native-male-citizens-with-a-wife-and-children-a-property-and-a/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [Personally I don't understand why the metal press even bother, but I guess it is good they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/personally-i-don-t-understand-why-the-metal-press-even-bother-but-i/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [Naturally I never had the intention to offend or alienate Slavs. … What makes me different from the ‘nazis’ are basically three things; unlike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/naturally-i-never-had-the-intention-to-offend-or-alienate-slavs-what/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [Hate is irrational. I am a rational person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/hate-is-irrational-i-am-a-rational-person/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [My mind has never been in prison; I think all the time about what I should do on the day that I am released.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/my-mind-has-never-been-in-prison-i-think-all-the-time-about-what-i/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [Christianity was created by some decadent and degenerated Romans as a tool of oppression, in the late Roman era, and it should be treated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/christianity-was-created-by-some-decadent-and-degenerated-romans-as-a/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [Personally, I am a nationalist, but my race is my nation, and I see all true Europeans as my racial brethren and part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/personally-i-am-a-nationalist-but-my-race-is-my-nation-and-i-see-all/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [Yes, maturity in life brings maturity to the music I make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/yes-maturity-in-life-brings-maturity-to-the-music-i-make/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [As I respect others, I want others to respect me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/as-i-respect-others-i-want-others-to-respect-me/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) [Explore all 143 Varg Vikernes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“People are like books, and the world is like a library. Some believe that it is important to be known with the most possible people, and have what we call superficial relationships with mass amounts of people. If you go in a library it's not important to see the cover of the most possible books, what you will learn if to get out a pair of interesting books and take a good amount of time to read them. 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