Alii quidem fœminas amant, alii equos, alii aves, alii feras; mihi vero a puerulo mirum acquirendi et possidendi libros insedit desiderium. JUL. IMP. The reading of books, what is it, but conversing with the wisest men of all ages and all countries, who thereby communicate to us their most deliberate thoughts, choicest notions, and best inventions, couched in good expression, and digested in exact method? M3 Practically there is but little difference between borrowing and stealing books. The thief looks upon those which he has purloined as his property, and never once thinks of restoring them to their rightful owner; and the borrower, though he may sometimes, perhaps, have that intention, very rarely carries it into effect. The latter, however, is by far the more dangerous of the two; it being infinitely less difficult to defend oneself against petty larceny, than against the solicitations of a friend begging for the loan of a book.—ANON. GENERAL |