第18章 书籍 (1)

Books

佚名 / Anonymous

Books are a guide in youth and an entertainment for age. They support us under solitude， and keep us from being a burden to ourselves.

——Jeremy Collier

The only true equalizers in the world are books； the only treasure-house open to all comers is a library.

—— Dr. Langford

Perhaps no other thing has such power to lift the poor out of his poverty， the wretched out of his misery， to make the burden-bearer forget his burden， the sick his suffering， the sorrower his grief， the downtrodden his degradation， as books. They are friends to the lonely， companions to the deserted， joy to the joyless， hope to the hopeless， good cheer to the disheartened， a helper to the helpless. They bring light into darkness， and sunshine into shadow.

We may be poor， socially ostracized， shut out from all personal association with the great and the good， and yet be in the best society in the world， in books. We may live in palaces， converse with princes， be familiar with royalty， and associate with the greatest and noblest of all time.

The trend of many a life for good or ill， for success or failure， has been determined by a single book. The books which we read early in life are those which inf？luence us most.

We form many of our opinions from our favorite books. The author whom we prefer is our most potent teacher； we look at the world through his eyes. If we habitually read books that are elevating in tone， pure in style， sound in reasoning， and keen in insight， our minds develop the same characteristics. If， on the contrary， we read weak or vicious books， our minds contract the faults and vices of the books. We cannot escape the inf？luence of what we read any more than we can escape the inf？luence of the air that we breathe.

The best books are those which stir us up most and make us the most determined to do something and be something ourselves. The best books are those which lift us to a higher plane where we breathe a purer atmosphere. As we should associate with people who can inspire us to nobler deeds， so we should only read those books which have an uplifting power， and which stir us to make the most of ourselves and our opportunities.

Emerson had three rules for reading： never read a book that is not a year old； never read any but famous books； never read a book you do not like.

Libraries are no longer a luxury， but a necessity. A home without books and periodicals and newspapers is like a house without windows. Children learn to read by being in the midst of books； they unconsciously absorb knowledge by handling them， no family can now afford to be without good reading. Furnish your house with books rather than unnecessary furniture， or even pictures if you cannot afford all. Wear threadbare clothes and patched shoes if necessary， but do not pinch or economize on books. If you cannot give your children an academic education you can place within their reach a few good books which will lift them above their surroundings， into respectability and honor.