书友(Companionship of Books)x
更新时间:2022-09-29 22:05:29 阅读： 评论：0
书友(CompanionshipofBooks)
amanmayusuallybeknownbythebookshereadsaswellasbythecompanyhekeeps:forthereisacompanionshipofbooksaswellasofmen;andoneshouldalwaysliveinthebestcompany,whetheritbeofbooksorofmen.
agoodbookmaybeamongthebestoffriends.itisthesametodaythatitalwayswas,anditwillneverchange.itisthemostpatientandcheerfulofcompanions.itdoesnotturnitsbackuponusintimesoftroubleordistress.italwaysreceivesuswiththesamekindness,amusingandinstructingus
inyouth,andcomfortingusinage.
booksposssanextracthavingthefundamentalpropertiesofimmortality.theyarebyfarthemostlastingproductsofhumaneffort.templesandstatuesdecay,butbookssurvive.timeisofnoaccountwithgreatthoughts,whichareasfreshtodayaswhentheyfirstpasdthroughtheirauthor's
mindsagesago.theonlyeffectoftimehasbeentosiftoutthebadproducts,fornothinginliteraturecanlongsurvivebutwhatisreallygood.
booksintroduceusintothebestsociety:theybringusintotheprenceofthegreatestmindsthathaveeverlived.wehearwhattheysaidanddid.weethemasiftheywerereallyalive;wesympathizewiththem,enjoywiththem,hurtwiththem;theirexperiencebecomesours,andwefeelasifwewere,inameasure,actorswiththeminthesceneswhichtheydescribe.
thegreatandgooddonotdieeveninthisworld.embalmedinbooks,theirspiritswalkabroad.thebookisalivingvoice.itisanintellecttowhichonestilllistens.henceweeverremainundertheinfluenceofthegreatmenofold.thegreatintellectsoftheworldareasmuchalivenowastheywereagesago.
