. . .no dearness of price ought to hinder one from the buying of books (if one has the money that is demanded for them) unless it be to withstand the malice of the seller or to await a more favourable opportunity of buying. For if it is wisdom only that makes the price of books, which is an infinite treasure to humankind, and if the value of books is unspeakable, as the premises show, how shall the bargain be shown to be dear where an infinite good is being bought?

from the Philobiblon (1345) of Richard de Bury, Bishop of Durham