Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Preserving valuable traditions and structures is a major problem that we neglect to solve.
In plain terms
We ignore the hard task of saving valuable old things.
What can you take from it?
Prioritize preserving valuable traditions and structures.

Where it applies

  • urban planning
  • cultural policy
  • historical conservation

Putting it to work

  • audit historical sites
  • support traditional crafts
  • balance change

Questions to consider

  • What old things should be saved?
  • How do you balance progress and history?

Another view

Old things may sometimes be better left to fade away.

More from John Galsworthy

  1. Everything known before it happens; and headlines twice the size of the events.

    Permalink to quote #39
  2. Religion was nearly dead because there was no longer real belief in future life; but something was struggling to take its place - service - social service - th…

    Permalink to quote #38
  3. The beginnings and endings of all human undertakings are untidy, the building of a house, the writing of a novel, the demolition of a bridge, and, eminently, t…

    Permalink to quote #37

Related quotes

  1. A tradition is kept alive only by something being added to it.

    Henry JamesHenry James quote #22
  2. He kicks against tradition and restrictions without realising that tradition made him, is his raison d'etre.

    Queen of Romania MarieQueen of Romania Marie quote #4
  3. In any case, rather like priests who have forgotten the meaning of the prayers they chant, we shall go on for quite a long time talking of books and writing bo…

    Gore VidalGore Vidal quote #5