私人图书馆

A Private Library All Your Own

中国人有"书非借不能读也"的说法,费尔普斯却认为"借书不如买书",哪一种说法更有道理呢?费尔普斯讲的也许完全是他个人的经验,但他确实讲得很好。重要的是选好书、用好书。书中虽然未必有"黄金屋"和"颜如玉",但书中有古圣先贤、名士作家的经验和智慧。拥有书就拥有无数的朋友,拥有书就永远不会感到孤独。

A borrowed book is like a guest in the house; it must be treated with punctiliousness, with a certain considerate formality. You must see that it sustains no damage; it must not suffer while under your proof. You cannot leave it carelessly, you cannot mark it, you cannot turn down the pages, you cannot use it familiarly. And then, some day, although this is seldom done, you really ought to return it.