Everything in the world exists in order to end up as a book. –Stephan Mallarme

A library, to modify the famous metaphor of Socrates, should be the delivery room for the birth of ideas—a place where history comes to life. –Norman Cousins

Reading has haunted and hypnotized me, providing escape when reality was uncooperative, and reality when escape was insufficient. –Daniel Handler

As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters. –Seneca

A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return. –Salman Rushdie, Imaginary Homelands