Bartlett's Familiar Quotations: A Collection of Passages, Phrases, and Proverbs Traced to Their Sources in Ancient and Modern Literature (17th Edition)

This very large book is 50% index and everything in it is referenced to the source, unlike competing products. But, it is such a giant waste of physical resources (trees) I can't encourage people buying it. Think about it, it's 50% index! This is a prime example of something that should always be computerized. Until people stop buying books like this on principle, the producers won't move the information completely to the web where it belongs.

This is a 'thinking man's' book, it is very well laid out, includes many (sometimes very obscure) quotations, is extremely well on sources (something that is so blatantly absent from many dictionairies of quotations), and includes a large amount of cross-references (although you can find a lot more yourself by careful browsing). If you buy only one book of quotations, this should be your choice. A good second is Oxford's, but Bartlett has got the best index of any reference work ever (it is more than 700 pages itself!) The preface of the book contains a sour message on the state of illiteracy in the USA, it is best left alone, but the rest of the book cannot be recommended enough. In sum, this is the best reference book of quotations available.

I have had a copy for over twenty five years and it always makes my day brighter by meditateing on the thoughts great thinkers share with the world. I have redhashed the thoughts and used them in writeing, in speaking and in instructive teaching a even in church as a teacher. I would hate to be without it. I intend to get a new copy to reap the benefits of new quotations that have been added.

"It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations. Bartlett's 'Familiar Quotations' is an admirable work, and I studied it intently." Sir Winston Churchill (1930) Sir Winston does a remarkable job of "reviewing" "FQ", and 5 pages of his own words are contained within (the aforementioned quote is on page 619 in this edition). There are over 50 pages of Shakespeare, as well. The index is superb, one can find quotes appropriate for speeches, letters, and personal enjoyment with ease. Bravo John Bartlett!

Bartlett's is a rich treasure-trove of quotations, many of which are not truly familiar, but constitute the well-worded, distilled wisdom of many centuries. While I understand Kaplan's desire to keep this venerable classic current, I wish he had restrained his urge to expand. Many of the newer quotations are pure fluff, and will not survive the passage of even a couple decades. If an older edition were available, I'd buy it in preference to this one.