Friday, July 14, 2006

Give old books or give me death...


Paul
Originally uploaded by ericblauer.
C. S. Lewis noted: "Every age has its own outlook. It is specially good at seeing certain truths and specially liable to make certain mistakes. We all, therefore, need the books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period. And that means the old books."

By despising all that has preceded us, we teach others to despise ourselves. -William Hazlitt, 'On Reading Old Books', 1821

A pint to musty old books!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

A new viewpoint can reveal a great deal.

Old books, and books outside our specialties - both are invaluable.

Might I suggest Mackay's Extraordinary Popular Delusions & the Madness of Crowds?