A man may usually be known by the books he reads as well as by the company he keeps; for there is a companionship of books as well as of men; and one should always live in the best company, whether it be of books or of men.
A good book may be among the best of friends. It is the same today that it always was, and it will never change. It is the most patient and cheerful of companions. It does not turn its back upon us in times of adversity or distress. It always receives us with the same kindness; amusing and instructing us in youth, and comforting and consoling us in age.
Men often discover their affinity to each other by the mutual love they have for a book just as two persons sometimes discover a friend by the admiration which both entertain for a third. There is an old proverb, 'Love me, love my dog." But there is more wisdom in this:" Love me, love my book." The book is a truer and higher bond of union. Men can think, feel, and sympathize with each other through their favorite author. They live in him together, and he in them.
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 have been to sift out the bad products; for nothing in literature can long survive e 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.
相关单词：urn
urn解释：n.（有座脚的）瓮；坟墓；骨灰瓮
urn例句：
The urn was unearthed entire.这只瓮出土完整无缺。
She put the big hot coffee urn on the table and plugged it in.她将大咖啡壶放在桌子上,接上电源。
相关单词：distress
distress解释：n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛
distress例句：
Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。
相关单词：affinity
affinity解释：n.亲和力，密切关系
affinity例句：
I felt a great affinity with the people of the Highlands.我被苏格兰高地人民深深地吸引。
It's
相关单词：mutual
mutual解释：adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的
mutual例句：
We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。
相关单词：admiration
admiration解释：n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕
admiration例句：
He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
相关单词：treasuries
treasuries解释：n.（政府的）财政部( treasury的名词复数 )；国库，金库
treasuries例句：
Yields on Treasuries, Bunds and gilts can remain at historically low levels. 美国国债、德国国债和英国国债的收益率仍然可以维持在历史低位。 来自互联网
Treasuries and gold rose in response but the dollar fell sharply. 接着，国债和黄金的价格上涨，而美元价格则猛跌。 来自互联网
相关单词：immortality
immortality解释：n.不死，不朽
immortality例句：
belief in the immortality of the soul 灵魂不灭的信念
It was like having immortality while you were still alive. 仿佛是当你仍然活着的时候就得到了永生。
相关单词：lasting
lasting解释：adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持
lasting例句：
The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。
相关单词：vividly
vividly解释：adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地
vividly例句：
The speaker pictured the suffering of the poor vividly.演讲者很生动地描述了穷人的生活。
The characters in the book are vividly presented.这本书里的人物写得栩栩如生。
相关单词：sift
sift解释：v.筛撒，纷落，详察
sift例句：
Sift out the wheat from the chaff.把小麦的壳筛出来。
Sift sugar on top of the cake.在蛋糕上面撒上糖。
相关单词：embalmed
embalmed解释：adj.用防腐药物保存（尸体）的v.保存（尸体）不腐( embalm的过去式和过去分词 )；使不被遗忘；使充满香气
embalmed例句：
Many fine sentiments are embalmed in poetry. 许多微妙的情感保存于诗歌中。 来自辞典例句
In books, are embalmed the greatest thoughts of all ages. 伟大思想古今有，载入书中成不朽。 来自互联网
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