Did you ever care to read the quotes written on the ceiling of the U.S. Library of Congress? They are everywhere, especially on the 2nd floor. In my recent visit to the building, I took pictures of the texts.

So what are the quotes and texts on the ceiling of the Library of Congress? Here they are:

The chief glory of every people arises from its authors.

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The foundation of every State is the education of its youth.

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Glory is acquired by virtue but preserved by letters.

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Books will speak plain when counselors blanch.

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The history of the world is the biography of great men.

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Art is long and time is fleeting.

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The true shekinah is man.

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Tongues in trees books in the running brooks sermons in stones and good in everything.

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Man is one world and hath another to attend him.

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They are never alone that accompanied with noble thoughts.

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Nature is the art of God.

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The true university of these days is a collection of books.

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There is but one temple in the universe and that is the body of man.

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Beauty is truth, truth is beauty.

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Science is organized knowledge.

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Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.

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Words are also actions and actions are kind of words.

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In books lies the soul of the whole past time.

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Books must follow sciences and not sciences books.

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How charming is divine philosophy

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Ignorance is the curse of God, knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.

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Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting get understanding.

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There is one only good namely knowledge, and one only evil namely ignorance.

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Only the actions of the just smell sweet and blossom in the dust.

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There is no work of genius which has not been the delight of mankind.

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It is the mind that makes the man and our vigor is on our immortal soul.

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Contact.

Address: 101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20540

Hours.

It is open usually from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. All buildings are closed to the public on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and New Year’s Holidays. The Madison and Adams buildings are closed on all federal holidays.

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Also: See all my travel adventures here.