________________
Books kindle path of life
Dooks vastly increase one's vision. An astronomer writes for laymen, so stars and suns break into voice. A scientist discloses the secret life of the creatures of forest and field. A scholarly historian reveals the making of decisions that destroy an empire. Presidents and prime ministers with their cabinets, and generals with their staffs, parade before us to justify themselves. Emerson and Lowell, Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln become contemporaries. With books one reaps harvests in many fields.
By day, one goes about business, profession, or housework. By night, with a book, one hears Dante and Milton talk of Paradise, and Plato teach his great philosophy. One finds that Homer and Shakespeare still live, Cervantes laughs, and Thomas Kempis inspires. The oceans and the continents, the Arctic and the tropics, all the generations of men with their woes and wars, their cultures and civilizations, are at one's fireside with a book in an easy chair.
For many people, life may actually be an unlighted candle, until some worthwhile book kindles its faculties so they glow. With faculties aflame, one does his best. Then imagination takes wing. Achievement seems easy. Judgement is sound. Obstacles grow small. Ideals are clear. Defeat is remote. Triumph is humble.
Books bring stories of exciting adventure, lively humour, dangerous exploration, great love, the tragedy of treason and inspiration to new achievement. In them, also, there is hope for the discouraged, strength for the defeated, and faith for the doubting.
- George Bernard Shaw
