"A big library has this in it of good,that it dismays those who look at it. Two hundred thousand volumes discourage a man tempted to print; but unfortunately he at once says to himself: "People do not read all those books,and they may read mine." He compares himself to a drop of water who complains of being lost in the ocean and ignored: a genius had pity on it;he caused it to be swallowed by an oyster;it became the most beautiful pearl in the Orient,and was the chief ornament in the throne of the Great Mogul. Those who are only compilers, imitators,commentators,splitters of phrases, usurious critics, in short,those on whom a genius has no pity,will always remain drops of water."
Our man works in his garret,therefore,in the hope of becoming a pearl.
It is true that in this immense collection of books there are about a hundred and ninety-nine thousand which will never be read,from cover to cover at least; but one may need to consult some of them once in a lifetime. It is a great advantage for whoever wishes to learn to find at his hand in the...palace the volume and page he seeks, without being kept waiting a moment. It is one of the most noble institutions. NO expense is more magnificent and more useful.
A man who wishes to learn a little about his existence, and who has no time to waste, is quite embarrassed. He wishes to read simultaneously Hobbes,Spinoza,Bayle who wrote against them,Leibnitz who disputed with Bayle,Clarke who disputed with Leibnitz,Malebranche who differed from them all,Locke who passed as having confounded Malebranche,Stillingfleet who thought he had vanquished Locke,Cudworth who thinks himself above them because he is understood by no one. One would die of old age before having thumbed the hundredth part of the metaphysical romances. One is very content to have the most ancient books,as one inquires into the most ancient medals. It is that which makes the honour of a library. ..."
*prose attributed to Voltaire*
~excerpt from Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary~pp.191-193
Choose which suits yea,and do try nae to be bored.
Leave thy Mark in the Queene's TomesThe Lady of FlowersA poem by the Archduke Thaddeus ThunderBird IAssorted Works of the Lady Celtique and the Lady Edain of the SidheA Tale of Queenes:Book IA Tale of Queenes:Book II
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