Meaning of the word "a man is happy when he has books, but happier still when he does not need them" in English

What does "a man is happy when he has books, but happier still when he does not need them" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

a man is happy when he has books, but happier still when he does not need them

US /ə mæn ɪz ˈhæpi wen hi hæz bʊks, bʌt ˈhæpiər stɪl wen hi dʌz nɑːt niːd ðem/
UK /ə mæn ɪz ˈhæpi wen hi hæz bʊks, bʌt ˈhæpiə stɪl wen hi dʌz nɒt niːd ðem/
"a man is happy when he has books, but happier still when he does not need them" picture

Phrase

A philosophical observation suggesting that while knowledge and literature bring joy, true contentment or mastery comes from internalizing that wisdom to the point where external resources are no longer necessary.

Example:
The professor often quoted, 'A man is happy when he has books, but happier still when he does not need them,' to encourage us to internalize our learning.
I finally understood that a man is happy when he has books, but happier still when he does not need them after I mastered the subject.