It is not easy to be mean directly after reading a noble and inspiring book.

The conversation of a man who reads for improvement or pleasure will be flavored by his reading; but it will not be about his reading.
Perhaps no other thing has such power to lift the poor out of his poverty, the wretched out of his misery, to make the burden-bearer forget his burden, the sick his sufferings, the sorrower his grief, the downtrodden his degradation, as books.

They are friends to the lonely, companions to the deserted, joy to the joyless, hope to the hopeless, good cheer to the disheartened, a helper to the helpless.

They bring light into darkness, and sunshine into shadow.
"Twenty-five years ago, when I was a boy," said Rev.J.A.James, "a school-fellow gave me an infamous book, which he lent me for only fifteen minutes.

At the end of that time it was returned to him, but that book has haunted me like a spectre ever since.