A short story is the ultimate close-up magic trick -- a couple of thousand words to take you around the universe or break your heart.
Neil GaimanRead
Libraries are the thin red line between civilization and barbarism.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Libraries play a crucial role in maintaining the cultural and intellectual standards of society.
Neil Gaiman's quote emphasizes the importance of libraries as essential institutions that provide access to knowledge, foster learning, and promote civil discourse. By describing libraries as the 'thin red line' between civilization and barbarism, Gaiman underscores their protective role in preserving culture and preventing societal decay, suggesting that without such spaces for learning and reflection, society could descend into ignorance and chaos.
Themes
LibrariesCivilizationKnowledgeEducationCulture
In practice
Example use cases
When discussing the importance of education in a speech to the community.
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