Freeman, E. A. (the historian). "I feel myself quite unable to draw up a list (of the best books), as I could not trust my own judgment on any matters not bearing on my special studies, and I should be doubtless tempted to give too great prominence to them."
Fuller, Thomas. "It is thought and digestion which make books serviceable, and give health and vigor to the mind."
Gibbon. "A taste for books is the pleasure and glory of my life. I would not exchange it for the glory of the Indies."
Gladstone. "When I was a boy I used to be fond of looking into a bookseller's shop; but there was nothing to be seen there that was accessible to the working-man of that day. Take a Shakspeare, for example. I remember very well that I gave £2 16s. 0d. for my first copy; but you can get any one of Shakspeare's Plays for seven cents. Those books are accessible now which were formerly quite inaccessible. We may be told that you want amusement, but that does not include improvement. There are a set of worthless books written now and at times which you should avoid, which profess to give amusement; but in reading the works of such authors as Shakspeare and Scott there is the greatest possible amusement in its best form. Do you suppose when you see men engaged in study that they dislike it? No!... I want you to understand that multitudes of books are constantly being prepared and placed within reach of the population at large, for the most part executed by writers of a high stamp, having subjects of the greatest interest, and which enable you, at a moderate price, not to get cheap literature which is secondary in its quality, but to go straight into the very heart,—if I may so say, into the sanctuary of the temple of literature,—and become acquainted with the greatest and best works that men of our country have produced."
Godwin, William. "It is impossible that we can be much accustomed to such companions without attaining some resemblance to them."
Goldsmith. "An author may be considered as a merciful substitute to the legislature. He acts not by punishing crimes, but by preventing them."
Hale, Sir Matthew. "Read the Bible reverently and attentively, set your heart upon it, and lay it up in your memory, and make it the direction of your life; it will make you a wise and good man."
Hamerton, P. H. "The art of reading is to skip judiciously."
Harrison, Frederic. "The best authors are never dark horses. The world has long ago closed the great assize of letters, and judged the first places everywhere."
"The reading of great books is usually an acquired faculty, not a natural gift. If you have not got the faculty, seek for it with all your might."