“What harbor can receive you more securely than a great library?”
Italo Calvino on Libraries
One of the most celebrated quotes about libraries comes from the Italian writer Italo Calvino, who said: “What harbor can receive you more securely than a great library?” - Italo Calvino. This quote highlights the idea that libraries can provide a safe haven and a wealth of knowledge for those seeking refuge or answers.
Quote Analysis
Italo Calvino's quote, "What harbor can receive you more securely than a great library?" suggests that a library can provide a sense of security and refuge. Let's delve deeper into this idea.
When Calvino compares a great library to a secure harbor, he is drawing a parallel between physical spaces of safety and comfort. Just as a harbor protects ships from storms and provides a safe haven, a library offers refuge for the mind and soul. In a library, one can find solace, knowledge, and inspiration, making it a secure space where individuals can retreat from the chaos of the world. This quote emphasizes the importance of libraries as not just repositories of books, but as sanctuaries for the intellect and the spirit.
Importance of Libraries in the Digital Age
Italo Calvino's quote highlights the enduring importance of libraries as a safe harbor for knowledge and information. In today's digital age, where information overload and fake news are rampant, libraries serve as crucial spaces for curated, reliable content. With their wealth of resources and expert guidance, libraries continue to be invaluable hubs for learning and research.
Reflecting on the Power of Libraries
As Italo Calvino once said, "What harbor can receive you more securely than a great library?" This quote highlights the idea that libraries offer a safe haven for seekers of knowledge and wisdom. Here are some reflection questions to ponder upon:
- How have libraries played a role in shaping your intellectual growth and curiosity?
- What emotions or sense of comfort do you associate with libraries?
- In what ways do libraries provide a sense of security and refuge for you?
- How has the access to diverse resources in libraries enriched your understanding of the world?
- Can you recall a specific moment when a library served as a sanctuary for you during a difficult time?
Similar quotes
“Genius at first is little more than a great capacity for receiving discipline.”
“We must plan for freedom, and not only for security, if for no other reason than only freedom can make security more secure.”
“When I get nervous, I go to the library and hang around. The libraries are filled with people who are nervous. You can blend in with them there. You're bound to see someone more nervous than you are in a library. Sometimes the librarians themselves are more nervous than you are. I'll probably be a librarian for that reason. Then if I'm nervous on the job, it won't show. I'll just stamp books and look things up for people and run back and forth to the staff room sneaking smokes until I get hold of myself. A library is a great place to hid.”
“In a great library, you get into society in the widest sense. . . . From that great crowd you can choose what companions you please, for in these silent gatherings . . . the highest is at the service of the lowest with a grand humility. In a library you become a true citizen of the world.”
“A few books well chosen, and well made use of will be more profitable than a great confused Alexandrian library.”