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
