Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house.

Henry Ward Beecher
About This Quote

The above quote is often attributed to Gertrude Stein, but there is confusion over the identity of the source. While some believe it was Stein, others believe it was her sister Alice who wrote it (or at least collaborated with her on the writing). What is not disputed, however, is that the quote is one of the most famous lines in literary history. It is a simple but brilliant idea that can be used to illustrate just about any subject. No matter what the topic, an 'author's quote' can be used to illustrate your point. These quotes can also be combined with other information to create an original illustration for your audience.

Some Similar Quotes
  1. A half-read book is a half-finished love affair. - David Mitchell

  2. If one wanted to depict the whole thing graphically, every episode, with its climax, would require a three-dimensional, or, rather, no model: every experience is unrepeatable. What makes lovemaking and reading resemble each other most is that within both of them times and spaces open,... - Italo Calvino

  3. We shouldn't teach great books we should teach a love of reading. Knowing the contents of a few works of literature is a trivial achievement. Being inclined to go on reading is a great achievement. - B.F. Skinner

  4. Do not read, as children do, to amuse yourself, or like the ambitious, for the purpose of instruction. No, read in order to live. - Gustave Flaubert

  5. People say that life is the thing, but I prefer reading. - Logan Pearsall Smith

More Quotes By Henry Ward Beecher
  1. Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?

  2. Adversity, if for no other reason, is of benefit, since it is sure to bring a season of sober reflection. People see clearer at such times. Storms purify the atmosphere.

  3. Now comes the mystery! (last words)

  4. Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.

  5. All words are pegs to hang ideas on.

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