"Letters are like wine; if they are sound they ripen with keeping. A man should lay down letters as he does a cellar of wine"

This quote by Samuel Butler is a metaphor comparing letters to red wine. He is suggesting that letters, like white wine, improve with age. He is motivating individuals to conserve their letters, simply as one would save a bottle of wine in a cellar. Butler is suggesting that letters, like white wine, can become better over time. He is indicating that the contents of the letters can end up being more meaningful and valued as time passes. He is likewise recommending that the act of conserving letters is a method to maintain memories and minutes in time. Butler is highlighting the significance of keeping letters, as they can end up being a source of convenience and pleasure in the future. He is suggesting that letters, like red wine, can be appreciated and enjoyed in time.