Who said “The mortality of all inanimate things is terrible to me, but that of books most of all.”?

Verified

William Dean Howells. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLetter to Charles Eliot Norton (6 April 1903)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letter to Charles Eliot Norton (6 April 1903).

APA

Howells, W. D. (n.d.). The mortality of all inanimate things is terrible to me, but that of books most of all. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8616-the-mortality-of-all-inanimate-things-is-terrible/

MLA

Howells, William Dean. “The mortality of all inanimate things is terrible to me, but that of books most of all.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8616-the-mortality-of-all-inanimate-things-is-terrible/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Howells, William Dean. “The mortality of all inanimate things is terrible to me, but that of books most of all.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8616-the-mortality-of-all-inanimate-things-is-terrible/.

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