In the humble environs of my boyhood, books were a scarce commodity. By local standards, however, the personal library of STR Manickam, a former 'revolutionary' or militant nationalist, was sizeable. He encouraged me to read all I could and I often visited his home to borrow books.

The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read.

It is a good thing for the uneducated man to read books of quotations.

Rest, nature, books, music...such is my idea of happiness.

Be a lifelong student, read as many books as possible.

Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi.