The Four Virtues
The names and quotes in the Great Hall were chosen by Librarian of Congress Ainsworth Rand Spofford and Charles Elliot, president of Harvard University.
• Wisdom
"KNOWLEDGE COMES, BUT WISDOM LINGERS"
Lord Alfred Tennyson (1809–1892), Locksley Hall (1842)
Understanding
• "WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING; THERFORE GET WISDOM; AND WITH ALL THY GETTING, GET UNDERSTANDING"
Proverbs 4:7
Knowledge
• "IGNORANCE IS THE CURSE OF GOD, KNOWLEDGE THE WING WHEREWITH WE FLY TO HEAVEN"
William Shakespeare (1564–1616), Henry VI, Part II, act 4, sc. 7 (1598)
Philosophy
• "HOW CHARMING IS DIVINE PHILOSOPHY!"
John Milton (1608–1674), Mask of Comus (1634)