“A man is known by the books he reads.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Last update June 3, 2021. History

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Ralph Waldo Emerson 727

American philosopher, essayist, and poet 1803–1882

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“No one ever reads a book. He reads himself through books, either to discover or to control himself.”

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“Why read the crystal when he can read the book?”

Aneurin Bevan (1897–1960) Welsh politician

Hansard, House of Commons, 5th series, vol. 468, col. 319.
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1940s
Context: It has been suggested, I think by the hon. Member for East Aberdeenshire (Mr. Boothby) that the most constructive suggestion he could make was to urge an early General Election and a return of a Tory Government in Britain. Why on earth should he want to prophesy what might result from a Tory Government when history has the record for him? Why read the crystal when he can read the book?