A good book is often the best urn of a life enshrining the best that life could think out; for the world of a man's life is, for the most part, but the world of his thoughts. Thus the best books are treasuries of good words, the golden thoughts, which, remembered and cherished, become our constant companions and comforters.
Books possess an essence of immortality. They are by far the most lasting products of human effort Temples and statues decay, but books survive. Time is of no account with great thoughts, which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their author's minds, ages ago. What was then said and thought still speaks to us as vividly as ever from the printed page. The only effect of time has been to sift, out the bad products; for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good.
Books introduce us into the best society; they bring us into the presence of the greatest minds that have ever lived. We hear what they said and did; we see the as if they were really alive; we sympathize with them, enjoy with them, grieve with them; their experience becomes ours, and we feel as if we were in a measure actors with them in the scenes which they describe.
The great and good do not die, even in this world. Embalmed in books, their spirits walk abroad. The book is a living voice. It is an intellect to which on still listens.
一本好书往往是生命中最好的容器，珍藏着生命所能想出的最好的东西；因为一个人一生的世界，多半不过是他思想的世界。因此，最好的书是金玉良言和崇高思想的宝库，这些良言和思想若铭记于心并多加珍视，就会成为我们忠实的伴侣和永恒的慰藉。
书籍具有不朽的本质。它们是迄今为止人类努力的最持久的产物。寺庙会倒坍，神像会朽烂，而书却经久长存。对于伟大的思想来说，时间是无关紧要的。许多年前，伟大的思想第一次在作者的脑海中闪现，今天这一思想依然清新如故。当时的言论和思想仍然从印刷的书页上生动地向我们诉说着。时间的唯一作用就是筛选、淘汰坏产品；因为文学中只有真正好的东西才能长存。
书籍带领我们进入最好的社会；他们把我们带到有史以来最伟大的人物面前。我们听到他们说了什么，做了什么；他们好像真的活在了我们的眼前；和他们一起同情，一起开心，一起伤心；他们的经验变成了我们的经验，我们觉得好像在某种程度上我们是演员，一起在他们描述的场景中。
即使在这个世界上，伟大和善良也不会消亡。他们的精神在书中留下了不朽的印记。这本书是活生生的声音。这是一种至今仍在聆听的智慧。