Chapter 12 Smart heads don't grow hair (2)

Of course, true baldness can also be compensated.When I look at myself and realize that so much time, energy, and money have been spent on growing and managing my hair, I thank the gods of fate for the way I am now.Because, my money is used to buy books, and my energy and time are used to read them. Oh, Absalom with curly and moist hair [Absalom, a character in the Old Testament, the third son of King David, was later killed for betraying his father. ], how much effort you have to spend in vain!Sweeter than ointments, creams, and perfumes, the breath of my old books comes from the ages, from the cabins, from the eternal friendship of the sages who have sucked its invigorating, A fragrance that inspires wisdom!Let me explain to you what my dear Chaucer said, you spendthrift of material wealth:

He would rather have twenty books piled by his bed, Nor fiddles, harps, and finery; The book has a red and black cover. The book is Aristotle's philosophy. But though he was a philosopher, But there is very little gold and silver in his cash box. [This verse is quoted from lines 293-298 of Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales: General Introduction". 】 Books, books, books—keep giving me more books, for they are treasure chests in which I can find the eternal expression of man—words, the only thing that lives forever!Whenever I think of John Herschel [John Herschel (1733-1822), the famous British astronomer, the discoverer of Uranus. ] Sir (may his noble soul rest in peace), I will bow my head reverently to the bust in the far corner.He said: "If I pray for an experience that will allow me to go through various circumstances, be a source of happiness in my life, a shield against the evils of life, without which things will go wrong and the world will frown at me, then that experience is reading. Put a man through such an experience, and acquire such means of pleasure, and you make him a happy man—unless (surely) you choose Put the most wicked book into his hands. You can give him access to the best people in every period of history--the wisest, funniest, gentlest, bravest, purest, those who have graced mankind character. You can make him a resident of all nations, you can make him live in all ages. The world was made for him."

It seems to me that there is a saying that is especially suitable for all good people (bless the fellow who said it, that big strong, bear-like old Tom Carlyle [Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), England Historian and essayist whose work is characterized by sharp social and political criticism and complex prose.]), he said: "First, the kind of Excellence is what we call a 'book'." Judge Methuen liked to quote Babington Macaulay when expressing this feeling [Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800-1859), British historian, writer and politician, whose works include "History of Britain" and "Song of Ancient Rome". ]'s words: "I would rather be a poor man in an attic with a book city than a king who doesn't like reading."

King, really!How poor they are!George III said to his bookseller Nicole: "If I had devoted as much effort to my education as I am now to the prince, I would give this right hand." Louis XIV was educated as much as the humblest hedge-man and ditch-digger.He can hardly even write his own name.At first (as Samuel Pegg [Samuel Pegg (1704-1796), British priest, collector, writer.] tells us), he used six straight bars and a curved line to form his name, just like Like this: S, later, his penmanship was very skillful, and it turned out that it was actually written: LOUIS. Whenever I think of Alexander's benevolence to Aristotle, I still have trouble finding reasons to bash kings.We would hardly know Aristotle without Alexander.As Aristotle's royal patron, he provided the philosopher with rather favorable conditions for acquiring knowledge.He sent messengers to all corners of the world to collect books and manuscripts, and all kinds of strange things, as long as they were likely to increase Aristotle's store of knowledge.

But let them stand in a row, and measure one by one—these fellows with crowns and scepters—oh, poor fellows, how meager and empty their achievements!Did they ever know what is the real happiness of human beings?They, and their courtiers, are but dust and oblivion. Methuen and I shall perish in time too, but our courtiers—who gave us joy and comfort—our Horace, our Cervantes, our Shakespeare, and countless others The long queues of - all this, will never die.With the encouragement and sustenance of these immortal companions, we roam merrily along the paths lighted by their glory, and we sing along the way.Whether in season or in season, I hope, that song will always be dearest to me, and to you, O noble reader:

Oh, a little book and a shade, Whether inside the door or outside the house, Hear the soft murmur of the green leaves overhead, Or the loud hawking on the street; I can read at leisure in these places, Whether it's a new friend or an old love; A good and pleasant book is all in one glance, They make me happier than gold.