Who said “Books give not wisdom where was none before, But where some is, there reading makes it…”?

Verified

John Harington. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceEpigram in Muses Library (1737), p. 310.

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Epigram in Muses Library (1737), p. 310..

APA

Harington, J. (n.d.). Books give not wisdom where was none before, But where some is, there reading makes it more. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8603-books-give-not-wisdom-where-was-none-before/

MLA

Harington, John. “Books give not wisdom where was none before, But where some is, there reading makes it more.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8603-books-give-not-wisdom-where-was-none-before/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Harington, John. “Books give not wisdom where was none before, But where some is, there reading makes it more.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8603-books-give-not-wisdom-where-was-none-before/.