What does this quote mean? Books are to remind us what asses and fools we are?

Question

What does the quote,"Books are to remind us what asses and fools we are." It's from the book Fahrenheit 451.

Answer 1

When we read books, we see the hero doing insane things and we look at normal lives and we can't do any of the things they do.

Answer 2

I believe it means that even after reading non-fiction, text books etc. etc.  we are still so arrogant to think that what we say and do is new.