And so of the making of books there is no end, and of the making of anthologies there seems particularly to be no end because we are all anthologists. The collection and hoarding of bits and pieces is basic to all animals, from the squirrel with his nuts...to the anthologist with his oddments stored up in his memory...Anthology-making is therefore essentially selfish, like self-preservation...with the advantage of literature over nuts that it can be shared without personal loss to the hoarder.
-Elizabeth Goudge, preface to A Book of Comfort, quoted by Leland Ryken in his preface to The Christian Imagination
3 comments:
I'm pretty sure Anthology is just another way to say Commonplace Book...
Indeed, though I appreciate your hoard.
Actually, rather than hoarding, there is a particular delight in subjecting friends...acquaintances...heck, total strangers...to my collection. Sharing is part of the pleasure. Actually, sharing increases the pleasure.
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