In recognition of our nation’s 250th anniversary, and for those of us in the library community who are on
occasion asked, “Why libraries?”, I wholeheartedly recommend Walter Isaacson’s new book, The
Greatest Sentence Ever Written¹. Isaacson’s succinct forty-one page essay is a satisfying exploration
of the most famous sentence in our Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness.”

In dissecting this singular (just thirty-five words!) sentence Isaacson links the historical English notion of
‘The Commons’ with the modern concept of the ‘American Dream’. Throughout he cites libraries as
examples of a ‘common good’ (pg. 28) and as an essential apparatus in our republic’s 250 year old small-
d democratic experiment.

“… Societies have always put certain basic goods into the commons, such as schools, libraries,
police, and fire protection…” He continues: “The library served as a commons where both poor
tradesmen and wealthy merchants would come to read books.”

Our pursuit of “certain unalienable Rights”, prerogatives enumerated in The Declaration as “Life, Liberty
and the pursuit of Happiness”, derives initially from John Locke’s notion of the ‘social contract’. Isaacson
explains further:

“…In Jefferson’s formulation, “the pursuit of happiness” is just a simpler way to say … It is your right
— and your opportunity — to seek fulfillment, meaning, and well-being however you personally see
fit.” (pg. 26)

Isaacson notes (pg. 33) that the phrase ‘American dream’ was popularized in the 1930s by James
Truslow Adams, who wrote:

“The American Dream is … a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be
able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable … regardless of the fortuitous
circumstances of birth or position.”

Said differently, all people are created equal and have the right to pursue well-being and the fruits of the
American dream — these fruits being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Isaacson continues to
discuss (pg. 37) economic equality and meritocracy through the lens of Ben Franklin’s writings, and
finishes:

“…Franklin’s wisdom should lead us to ask a basic question: What is the purpose of an economy?
… Its purpose is to … create a good society. A good, stable society where individuals can be free
and flourish and live together in harmony. That requires nurturing the sense that we share common
rights, common grounds, common truths, and common aspirations. Democracy depends on this.”
[lightly edited for brevity]

Why libraries? Informed by Isaacson’s meditation on these thirty-five shining words, I’d answer this way:
Libraries are a public good, an essential part of our shared commons. Libraries help individuals and their
communities toward well-being and living the American Dream².

1. Isaacson, Walter. 2025. The Greatest Sentence Ever Written. New York: Simon & Schuster. While
   Isaacson accomplishes his task in just 41 pages, the book’s actual page count is 69. Following Isaacson’s ten-chapter analysis are included seven appendices including guiding documents from Locke, Rousseau, Jefferson, and several drafts (draughts) of the Declaration itself. ↩︎
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream ↩︎