How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #4
Light is provided by certain spherical fruits that bear the name "bulbs." There are two of these bulbs in each hexagon, set crosswise. The light they give is insufficient, and unceasing. (1)
Since there's not much to do around here besides read, we imagine the insufficient light is a total bummer.
Quote #5
Idealists argue that the hexagonal rooms are the necessary shape of absolute space, or at least of our perception of space. They argue that a triangular or pentagonal chamber is inconceivable. (2)
Inconceivable! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D58LpHBnvsI&feature=youtube_gdata_player We do not think it means what they think it means. (We've always wanted to say that.) Idealism is a philosophical theory that says that what we experience is ultimately based on mental activity, and not on the external world. So these idealists are arguing that the librarians experience rooms with six sides because it's the only kind of room they can conceive of.
We think Borges is making a little philosophical joke here about idealism. The funny thing is, his whole story is one big abstraction – that is to say, it only exists thanks to our mental activity. And, well, to us it seems possible to conceive of a Library made up of triangles or pentagons.
Quote #6
Each wall of each hexagon is furnished with five bookshelves; each bookshelf holds thirty-two books identical in format; each book contains four hundred ten pages; each page, forty lines; each line, approximately eighty black letters. (3)
The regimented order of the Library even extends to the number of letters in each book. Are we surprised? No, no we're not.