A good book, in the language of the book-sellers, is a salable one; in that of the curious, a scarce one; in that of men of sense, a useful and instructive one.

Summary

This quote highlights the different perspectives on what makes a book "good" depending on the reader. For book-sellers, a good book is one that can easily be sold and has market demand. Curious readers value rare and hard-to-find books. However, the quote asserts that men of sense, or people with wisdom and judgment, believe that a good book is one that is useful and instructive, providing valuable knowledge or insights. It suggests that the true value of a book lies in its ability to educate and enlighten its readers.

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