Commonplace books were once ... well, commonplace.
Although the idea dates back to the ancients, the commonplace book—a personal compendium of quotations taken from books and conversations, historical events of the day, recipes, anecdotes, and much more—became popular during the Renaissance and remained so through the 19th century. Writers, statesmen, and clergy such as John Locke, Michel de Montaigne, Francis Dane, and Thomas Jefferson built these collections as depots of knowledge to which they might return for inspiration. Many others kept a commonplace book for self-edification and inspiration.
