A few quotations from the Folio book A Booklover’s Companion for you to ponder today and discuss(!)…
They are Landmarks and guides in our journey through life.
Wiliam Hazlitt, On Reading Old Books (1921)
Books are the compasses and telescopes and sextants and charts which other men have prepared to help us navigate the dangerous seas of human life.
Jesse Lee Bennett, What Books Do for You (1923)
Books – Lighthouses erected in the sea of time.
Edwin P. Whipple (1819-86)
The good book is always a book of travel; it is about life’s journey.
Henry Major Tomlinson, Out of Soundings (1931).
What lovely thoughts Annabel – and I suppose my books have been something of a force to help me navigate through life, so they’re quite apt!
While I definitely agree with these I would have to say that books are also, sometimes the things that cushion me from life when it gets rather more than I can take. Perhaps that is there real benefit, that they can be so many things to so many people.
I could have found quotations for those sentiments too Alex, which I share too. It’s a nice little collection of bookish quotes – I may post some more on another theme another day.
Love the quotes. I agree that books help you navigate your way through life.
Like these especially the Whipple quote. I’ve always loved this Alexander Smith quote “I go into my library and all history unfolds before me. I breathe the morning air of the world while the scent of Edens roses yet lingered in it, while it only to the first brood of night.” I keep it in the notes pages on my iPhone – which is probably a bit geeky and scary so I’ll stop there!!!!!!
It was the Whipple one that got me going with this post – had to share it. Your quote – geeky, maybe – scary? definitely not! 🙂
Lovely! I do love books about books 🙂