Final answer:
Walter Benjamin expressed that books preserve their collector, highlighting the reflective nature of book collecting and the cultural and personal significance of books. The exact year of the quote is not provided. The preservation and impact of books is evident in different historical and cultural contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Walter Benjamin's profound statement about books preserving their collector rather than the other way around underscores the philosophical and reflective nature of book collecting. It's not specified in a particular year when he said this quote. The essence of his thought is that while individuals collect books, believing they are saving them from disappearance, the books themselves hold and preserve the minds and essences of their collectors. This idea is mirrored in the various texts that span different cultures and times, from the handling of ancient manuscripts in Timbuktu to the private libraries of influential people like Li Qingzhao during the Song period.
Books serve as vessels that encapsulate histories, ideas, and the very soul of collectors and readers alike. As noted in multiple sources, the seriousness with which collectors attend to their books—from detailed examination to preservation efforts—shows that books are more than mere objects; they are companions, repositories of culture, and legacies of thought. Preservation, digitization, and reflections on the personal impact of literature suggest how deeply books influence and maintain the intellectual and emotional landscapes of individuals who engage with them.