Do Not Merely Collect Books, But Select Them

 

My advice is not to huddle together indiscriminately all sorts of books and to look only to their number and quantity. I would make a selection of books.There is no need of collecting the commentaries of all jurists, the sentences of all theologians, the questions of all philosophers, and the sermons of all monks. In fact, I would throw out such dung and furnish my library with the right sort of books, consulting with scholars as to my choice.

First of all, the library should contain Holy Scripture in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, German, and in whatever other languages it may be available. Then there should be the best and oldest commentators, if I could find them, in Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. Then books that aid us in acquiring the languages, such as the poets and orators, no matter whether heathen or Christian, Greek or Latin; for these are the books from which one must learn grammar. Then should come books about the liberal arts and all the other arts; and finally also books of law and of medicine, though here, too, a judicious choice of texts is necessary.

Among the chief books, however, should be chronicles and histories, in whatever language they may be had. For they are of wondrous value for understanding and guiding the course of the world, and especially for noting the wonderful works of God.

Martin Luther

Source:

What Luther Says, p. 110-111

Compiled by Ewald M. Plass