"A book is a fragile creature, it suffers the wear of time, it fears rodents, the elements and clumsy hands. So the librarian protects the books not only against mankind but also against nature and devotes his life to this war with the forces of oblivion."
The great question which, in all ages, has disturbed mankind, and brought on them the greatest part of their mischiefs, has been, not whether there be power in the world, nor whence it came, but who should have it.