古人不著书

章学诚《文史通义》

六经皆史也。古人不著书，古人未尝离事而言理，六经皆先王之政典也。

Neil Postman, The Disappearance of Childhood

Indeed, prior to the printing press the concept of a writer, in the modern sense, did not exist.

And Mr. Postman proceeded to quote Saint Bonaventure.

A man might write the works of others, adding and changing nothing, in which case he is simply called a “scribe.” … Another writes the work of others with additions which are not his own; and he is called a “compiler.” … Another writes both others work and his own, but with others’ work in principal place, adding his own for purposes of explanation; and he is called a “commentator.” … Another writes both his own work and others’ but with his own work in principal place adding others’ for purposes of confirmation; and such a man should be called an “author.”

注意这里的write不是现代意义上的写作，而是指（抄）写这个动作。