Quotations and Literature Forum

"He that loves a book will never want a faithful friend, a wholesome counselor, a cheerful compainion, an effectual comforter. By study, by reading, by thinking, one may innocently divert and pleasantly entertain himself, as in all weathers, as in all fortunes."

Author of quote is variously given as Sir Arthur Helps or Barrow. If Barrow, which one? Isaac Barrow the 17th C, mathematician? An attribution would be great. Thanks

Hmm, this looks like one that has spread around the Web from one page to another, especially since virtually everyone attributes it to the mysterious "Barrow".

Sir Arthur Helps is a more likely source but I can't confirm that. He also might disagree with it considering this:

_________________
Michael Moncur
Owner and maintainer, The Quotations Page

A member/moderator of another discussion forum found the following:

Dr. Isaac Barrow, says, "He that loveth a book will never want a faithful friend, a wholesome counsellor, a cheerful companion, an effectual comforter."
quoted in Fifty Years of Sheffield Church Life 1866-1916 by Rev. W. Odom (Hon. Canon of Sheffield)
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com ... dom07.html
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com ... dom01.html

The uncle-nephew connection was found at-
http://48.1911encyclopedia.org/B/BA/BARROW_ISAAC.htm

Bio of the Bishop Barrow at-
www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/people ... barrow.htm

When searching, I had found the "Sir Arthur Helps" attribution at the BrainyQuote website. I have found BrainyQuote to be rather unreliable when trying to source a quotation.

Sir Arthur Helps
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/q120579.html

Thanks --I have been searching for this.

Nice Job! I put that one in the database so it can be found next time.

Yes, I find BrainyQuote's attributions to be a bit, er, unreliable at times.

_________________
Michael Moncur
Owner and maintainer, The Quotations Page