I recently ran across Great Bookish Quotes, published in 2023. The entertaining collection of thoughtful passages was edited by the American Library Association, and celebrates the power and magic of books through memorable quotes. This anthology brings together some of the most thought-provoking, humorous, and heartfelt words ever written about reading, literature, and the written word. Featuring insights from authors, poets, and thinkers throughout history, the book serves as a tribute to the transformative experience of storytelling and the deep connection between readers and books. Whether you’re a lifelong bibliophile or a casual reader, this collection offers inspiration and reflection on the enduring impact of literature. Here are some notable quotes from the book:

“A library in the middle of a community is a cross between an emergency exit, a life raft, and a festival. They are cathedrals of the mind; hospitals of the soul; theme parks of the imagination.” — Caitlin Moran

“The library is the temple of learning and learning has liberated more people than all the wars in history.” —Carl Rowan

“Some books are so familiar that reading them is like being home again.” – Louisa May Alcott

“Civilized nations build libraries; lands that have lost their soul close them down.” — Toby Forward

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers.” – Charles Eliot

“Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life. Libraries change lives for the better.” — Sidney Sheldon

“A book, too, can be a star, explosive material, capable of stirring up fish life endlessly, a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe.” — Madeleine L’Engle

“Maybe this is why we read, and why in moments of darkness we return to books: to find words for what we already know.” — Alberto Manguel

“I am a part of everything that I have read.” — Theodore Roosevelt

“What people truly desire is access to the knowledge and information that ultimately lead to a better life — the collected wisdom of the ages found only in one place: a well-stocked library.” – Linda Sue Park

“Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it, and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens.” Carlos Ruiz Zafon

“Most people don’t understand what a library does for me, and I’ve tried to explain it to them. All I know is that I feel energized when I’m in one. My pulse quickens when I walk through the stacks. I feel like an explorer surveying an uncharted tour. Lost worlds are here waiting to be discovered. Ancient worlds; once glorious, not crumbled. Future worlds; no more substantial than the numbers or ideas or words of those who dream them. Mythical worlds. Worlds of limitless dimensions. Libraries are medieval forests, masking opportunity and danger; every aisle is a path, every catalog reference a clue to the location of the Holy Grail.” – Jack Kavanaugh

“Libraries have a transformative effect on lives of all ages the communities in which they reside, in the country as a whole. They were, and still are, civic institutions that welcome anyone who wishes to become a more informed an independent citizen. There is no other public resource that’s so well encapsulates this aspirational notion of democracy. Through the library, through books, through knowledge, through access to technology, we all can improve to become better, more learned, versions of ourselves, and in turn, be better neighbors to those around us.” – Dan Rather