Who wrote this and where did it come from?

Question

Of all the inanimate objects of all men's creations, books are the nearest to us for they contain our very thoughts, our ambitions, our indignation's, our illusions, our fidelity to the truth, and our persistent leanings to error. But most of all they resemble us in their precious hold on life

Answer 1

Joseph Conrad

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Conr...

Answer 2

Conrad, Joseph

Notes on Life and Letters (p. 5)