TALKING FROM BOOKS
Dr. Johnson this day, when we were by ourselves [on the journey to the Hebrides] observed, how common it was for people to talk from books; to retail the sentiments of others, and not their own; in short, to converse without any originality of thinking. He was pleased to say, 'You and I do not talk from books.'—J. Boswell. Life of Johnson.
There are no race of people who talk about books, or perhaps, who read books, so little as literary men.—W. M. Thackeray.