Books, while enlightening my wisdom and heart, helped me to stand up in a muddy pool, and if it were not for books, I would have sunk in this muddy pond, and I would have been stupid and indecent

Books, while revealing my wisdom and heart, helped me to stand up in a muddy pool, and if it were not for books, I would have sunk in this mud pond, and I would have been drowned by stupidity and indecency. - Gorky