I think that at the bottom of all art lies the impulse to preserve.

Philip Larkin
About This Quote

The impulse to preserve things, whether it’s art, architecture or any other work of art, is inherent in our nature. The desire to keep things for the future is rooted in the fact that we live in a world that moves so fast. We move from one school or job to another, from one place to another and from one person to another. If we don’t do something with these things, they will be lost forever.

In some cases, they will fade away without anyone even noticing what they used to be. In others, they will remain on display long after their value has been lost or never existed at all. Whatever the reason, we have a particular need to keep things around us and around us for a long time.

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