Who said “A scholar is like a book written in a dead language. It is not every one that can read…”?

Verified

William Hazlitt. A published source records them saying or writing it.

Source"Common Places," No. 13, The Literary Examiner (September - December 1823)

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: "Common Places," No. 13, The Literary Examiner (September - December 1823).

APA

Hazlitt, W. (n.d.). A scholar is like a book written in a dead language. It is not every one that can read in it. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36730-a-scholar-is-like-a-book-written-in/

MLA

Hazlitt, William. “A scholar is like a book written in a dead language. It is not every one that can read in it.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36730-a-scholar-is-like-a-book-written-in/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Hazlitt, William. “A scholar is like a book written in a dead language. It is not every one that can read in it.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36730-a-scholar-is-like-a-book-written-in/.

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