I think we all need that quiet space from time to time, so that we can resume our path forward refreshed and reinvigorated. If I recall correctly, that quote is from an interview he gave while a passenger on a cargo ship. Turns out Alex Haley loved taking trips on them as the cabins provided a peaceful environment for him to write. That quote has always stayed with me, as I was raised mostly by older people, and learned so much from them. It always reminded me of the burning of The Library of Alexandria. The "library burning" part, is a reference to the knowledge lost when wise elders pass on, unless that knowledge is passed on to the next generation.