Who said “God be thanked for books; they are the voices of the distant and the dead, and make us…”?

Disputed

It's credited to William Ellery Channing, but no reliable source from their lifetime has been found.

What the research foundNo reliable early source found for William Ellery Channing.

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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APA

“God be thanked for books; they are the voices of the distant and the dead, and make us heirs of the spiritual life of past ages.” [Quotation attributed to William Ellery Channing]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8520-god-be-thanked-for-books-they-are-the/

MLA

“God be thanked for books; they are the voices of the distant and the dead, and make us heirs of the spiritual life of past ages.” Attributed to William Ellery Channing. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8520-god-be-thanked-for-books-they-are-the/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“God be thanked for books; they are the voices of the distant and the dead, and make us heirs of the spiritual life of past ages.” Attributed to William Ellery Channing. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8520-god-be-thanked-for-books-they-are-the/.

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“It is chiefly through books that we enjoy intercourse with superior minds, and these invaluable means of communication are in the reach of all. In the best books, great men talk to us, give us their most precious thoughts, and pour their souls into ours.”
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“The world is governed by opinion.”
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“True love is the parent of humility.”
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“Error is discipline through which we advance.”
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All 27 William Ellery Channing quotes →