In our democratic society, the library stands for hope, for learning, for progress, for literacy, for self-improvement and for civic engagement. The library is a symbol of opportunity, citizenship, equality, freedom of speech and freedom of thought, and hence, is a symbol for democracy itself.

The library is our house of intellect, our transcendental university, with one exception: no one graduates from a library. No one possibly can, and no one should.

It meant that New York philanthropists, New York society, would now rediscover the library. ... that learning, books, education have glamour, that self-improvement has glamour, that hope has glamour.

The universe is not going to see someone like you again in the entire history of creation.

Libraries and museums are the DNA of our culture.

Libraries keep the records on behalf of all humanity. the unique and the absurd, the wise and the fragments of stupidity.

Dignity is not negotiable. Dignity is the honor of the family.