CURLED UP WITH A BOOK

When I open a book these days, somewhere in between the first chapter and the introduction, there's the quote. What's this thing with quotes? Is it the idea of giving the reader some insight in the deeper meaning of the literary work  he's about to begin? Or is it merely to raise the author to a higher level by quoting someone, preferably from the past, obscure and in another language (Latin works great), who has earned his stripes in the printed world ?

     

                    

To read like the flame reads the wood, from top left corner clockwise; Illustration by Norman Rockwell for the Saturday Evening Post, Italian illustrator Lorenzo Matteoti, dutch graphic artist Kees Kelfkens wonderful book promotion ad, book week illustration by Jan Balet, illustration of woman reading by Japanese artist Uemura Shoen, a painting by polish born painter Balthus , famous fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez illustration for ELLE magazine, Peter Newell's bad potato book illustration and finally Robert Wagt's girl reading on a Suzani couch.