Cicero, Marcus Tullius -- Epistulae ad Familiares [Letters to Friends], Book 9, Letter 4, sec. 1 (9.4.1), to Marcus Terentius Varro (46 BC) [tr. Williams (Loeb) (1928)]

Dave — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 20:55:09 +0000

If you have a garden in your library, we shall have all we want.

[Si hortum in bibliotheca habes, deerit nihil.]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Epistulae ad Familiares [Letters to Friends], Book 9, Letter 4, sec. 1 (9.4.1), to Marcus Terentius Varro (46 BC) [tr. Williams (Loeb) (1928)]
(Source)

In context, this is about Cicero discussing visiting Varro, and that he'll be happy to do so if the latter has a garden and a library, either to provide for body (vegetables) and mind, or else a garden library to have a pleasant place to think and talk during his visit.

The phrase, out of context and in more popular usage, changes the pronouns a bit, and is usually presented as a broad suggestion that all a person needs at their house to meet their mental and emotional needs is a garden and a library, e.g., the ubiquitous "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

Let there be a garden in your Librarie, it is no matter for the rest.
[tr. Webbe (1620)]

As your library is situated in your garden, I shall want nothing to complete my two favorite amusements; reading and walking.
[tr. Melmoth (1753), 8.14]

If you have a garden in your library, everything will be complete.
[tr. Shuckburgh (1899), # 464]

If you have a kitchen garden in your library we shall lack for nothing.
[tr. Shackleton Bailey (1978), # 180]

If you have a garden in your library, you’ve got it all.
[tr. @sentantiq (2011)]

WIST Quotations

Cicero, Marcus Tullius -- Epistulae ad Familiares [Letters to Friends], Book 9, Letter 4, sec. 1 (9.4.1), to Marcus Terentius Varro (46 BC) [tr. Williams (Loeb) (1928)]