The dust and odour of ancient libraries, the gloom of those crypts of literature, have… all the charm of freshest images and freshest poetry. – Alexandre Vinet (1797–1847)

Meek young men grow up in libraries, believing it their duty to accept the views which Cicero, which Locke, which Bacon, have given, forgetful that Cicero, Locke, and Bacon were only young men in libraries, when they wrote these books. Hence, instead of Man Thinking, we have the book-worm. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nutrimentum spiritus (food for the soul). – Berlin Royal Library, inscription