Books extend wisdom.
It is now our task to fit together these tools, the new ones with the old. From this passage, I concluded that the quintessential librarian is careful never to voice an opinion. Such librarians are destined to scour the universe, seeking just enough evidence of what other people opine to determine whether a question is open or closed, and to assure other knowledge seekers who pass their way that the risk of misplaced trust in any one of these opinions is very great indeed. Still, the longer I ponder Wilson's proposition, and reflect upon my own years of practice, the greater its appeal to my common sense view of the human condition. Which, as those of you familiar with Second-Hand Knowledge will know, is no less than Wilson would expect of an inveterate world watcher such as myself.