The non-artists among us are always terribly busy, but finally disappear without a trace.
Helen VendlerRead
For the mind and the imagination, bookstores aren't enough, college courses aren't enough, the Internet isn't enough. Those resources are all governed by the tastes and needs of the moment. Only libraries take the long view, quietly shelving the unused with the used, knowing that one of these days the two categories will be reversed by a student's discovery of those hitherto undisturbed volumes whose contents will unsettle the learned world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Libraries preserve knowledge over time, allowing for future discoveries that can challenge existing understandings.
In this quote, Helen Vendler emphasizes the unique role that libraries play in society. Unlike bookstores, college courses, or online resources that cater to current trends, libraries provide a vast repository of knowledge that remains accessible for future generations. The quote suggests that the true value of libraries lies in their ability to maintain a comprehensive collection of works, including those that may not be popular or widely recognized at the moment. This long-term perspective nurtures curiosity and potential discoveries that can dramatically shift established academic and cultural norms.
Themes
LibrariesKnowledgeEducationDiscoveryBooks
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of education, this quote could highlight the value of libraries.
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