Fools have a habit of believing that everything written by a famous author is admirable. For my part I read only to please myself and like only what suits my taste.

Despite the enormous quantity of books, how few people read! And if one reads profitably, one would realize how much stupid stuff the vulgar herd is content to swallow every day.

It is with books as with men: a very small number play a great part.

I know many books which have bored their readers, but I know of none which has done real evil.

What we find in books is like the fire in our hearths. We fetch it from our neighbors, we kindle it at home, we communicate it to others, and it becomes the property of all.

All the known world, excepting only savage nations, is governed by books.

Redoutez des liens formés par l' imprudence.Le crime quelquefois suit de près l' innocence.Le coeur peut se tromper ; l' amour et ses douceurspourront coûter, Palmire, et du sang et des pleurs