As long as the centuries continue to unfold, the number of books will grow continually, and one can predict that a time will come when it will be almost as difficult to learn anything from books as from the direct study of the whole universe. It will be almost as convenient to search for some bit of truth concealed in nature as it will be to find it hidden away in an immense multitude of bound volumes.
Interpretation
The abundance of books may eventually make it difficult to find meaningful knowledge, similar to studying the vastness of the universe.
Denis Diderot's quote emphasizes the overwhelming influx of information that comes with the proliferation of books. He suggests that, as the number of written works grows, the challenge of extracting valuable truths from this vast repository of knowledge will intensify, making it as complex as seeking understanding from the entirety of nature itself. This reflects a concern about information overload and the importance of discerning valuable knowledge in an age of abundance.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of education, you might reference this quote to discuss the challenges of information overload.
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