Summary
This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson suggests that a man's library is comparable to a harem, which traditionally refers to a place where women are kept for a man's pleasure. In this context, the library symbolizes a collection of books that a man possesses and derives pleasure from. Just as a harem represents a place of desires and fascination, a library is similar in that it holds a man's intellectual interests, passions, and sources of inspiration. It highlights the intimate and personal relationship an individual can have with their collection of books, presenting them as a source of intellectual stimulation and satisfaction.