Commonplace books were once ... well, commonplace.
Though the idea dates back to the ancients, the commonplace book—a personal compendium of quotes 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 like John Locke, 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.
