“A little library, growing larger every year, is an honorable part of a man's possessions. A library is not a luxury. It is one of the necessities of a full life.”

“A little library, growing every year, is an honorable part of a man’s history. It is a man’s duty to have books.”

“A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life.”

“There is a temperate zone in the mind, between luxurious indolence and exacting work; and it is to this region, just between laziness and labor, that summer reading belongs. ”

“A noble man compares and estimates himself by an idea which is higher than himself; and a mean man, by one lower than himself. The one produces aspiration; the other ambition, which is the way in which a vulgar man aspires.”

“A book is good company. It is full of conversation without loquacity. It comes to your longing with full instruction, but pursues you never. ”

“God asks no man whether he will accept life. That is not a choice. You must take it. The only question is how.”