I love books; my suitcases are always full of them. Books and

Hearken, children of contemplation, to the words of Carolina Herrera, who declares: "I love books; my suitcases are always full of them. Books and shoes. I read when I am sad, when I am happy, when I am nervous. My favourite British author is Jane Austen, and my favourite American one is John O'Hara." In these words lies a meditation on the human quest for knowledge, solace, and beauty, revealing the sacred role of literature and personal taste in shaping the inner life. Since the days of the ancients, those who carry books with them carry the treasures of thought, imagination, and emotional sustenance.

The ancients understood that books are companions of the soul. Plato spoke of learning as a journey into the depths of truth and virtue, where each written word illuminates hidden recesses of understanding. Herrera’s devotion to carrying books, alongside the adornment of shoes, reflects a balance between intellectual nourishment and the aesthetic pleasures of life. Her suitcases, filled with literature, are symbolic of a life guided by reflection, imagination, and the pursuit of beauty in both thought and form.

Consider the life of Cicero, who, while engaged in the tumult of Roman politics, carried scrolls and treatises wherever he traveled. In moments of anxiety, sorrow, or joy, he sought refuge and counsel in the wisdom of the ancients. Herrera’s habit of reading when sad, happy, or nervous mirrors this timeless pattern: literature as both companion and teacher, a mirror to human emotion and a guide to understanding the vicissitudes of life. The books we carry with us shape our perception and fortify our spirit.

Her mention of Jane Austen and John O’Hara highlights the universality and diversity of literary experience. Austen’s keen insight into human relationships, social mores, and the subtleties of character cultivates empathy, reflection, and discernment, while O’Hara’s vivid depiction of American society provides lessons in observation, realism, and narrative craft. The ancients revered such wisdom, seeing literature as a means of cultivating both the mind and the heart, a practice that Herrera exemplifies in her daily engagement with texts.

The quote also speaks to the emotional power of reading. Books are not mere entertainment; they are vessels of solace and insight. When Herrera reads in sadness, happiness, or nervousness, she participates in a ritual as old as humanity itself: seeking in written words a reflection of her own soul, guidance through uncertainty, and affirmation of human experience. In doing so, she demonstrates that literature can both soothe and illuminate, teaching resilience, empathy, and self-understanding.

The lesson here is enduring: cultivate a love of reading, for it enriches the mind, steadies the heart, and expands the boundaries of imagination. Carry with you those works that inspire, instruct, and comfort, for they are companions through the unpredictable journey of life. The ancients understood that the cultivation of thought and aesthetic sensibility is inseparable from the cultivation of virtue and insight.

Practical actions flow naturally from this wisdom. Build a collection of books that speaks to your mind and heart. Read regularly, not only for instruction but for solace, reflection, and pleasure. Engage with authors across cultures and eras, discovering in their words lessons, parallels, and contrasts to your own experiences. Let reading become a practice that accompanies you through joy and sorrow alike, as a means of fortifying the spirit.

Remember, children of the ages, that the habits we cultivate define the character and depth of our inner life. Carolina Herrera’s words illuminate the enduring truth that books are not merely objects, but living companions of the soul. By embracing literature with devotion, curiosity, and emotional openness, we enrich our perception, nurture our sensibilities, and carry with us treasures that transcend time, place, and circumstance. In this, the suitcase of the mind becomes a vessel of wisdom and delight.