The Importance of Sound Literature

The American scholar Henry Adams wrote, "The difference is slight, to the influence of an author, whether he is read by five hundred readers, or by five hundred thousand. If he can select the five hundred, he reaches the five hundred thousand."

Others have written about the importance of literature:

The smallest tract may be the stone in David’s sling. In the hands of Christ it may bring down a giant soul. (Robert Murray M’Cheyne)

We must throw the printer’s inkpot at the devil. (Martin Luther)

Books may preach when the author cannot, when the author may not, when the author dares not, yea, and which is more, when the author is not. (Thomas Brooks)

The printed page is a visitor who gets inside the home and stay there; it always catches a man in the right mood, for it speaks to him only when he is reading it. (Anon.)

If I might control the literature of the household, I would guarantee the well-being of the church and state. (Francis Bacon)

No other agency can penetrate so deeply, witness so daringly, abide so persistently and influence so irresistibly as the printed page. (Samuel Zwemer)

Printed literature is both durable and portable. It can travel across geographical and cultural borders. It can be read again and again, in any place and at any time, passed from person to person. Hundreds of people may read the same book; ultimately, thousands may be impacted. Furthermore, literature may be printed in any quantity and may be translated into many languages.

In taking the Truth into all nations, God has wonderfully used the printed page. We pray that He continues to bless the ministry of our materials!