--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Collecting at its best is very far from…" description: "\"Collecting at its best is very far from mere acquisitiveness; it may become one of the most humanistic of occupations, seeking to illustrate by the ass..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/arthur-davison-ficke-63249_assembling_collecting-at-its-best-is-very-far-from_1442088.jpg" --- # Collecting at its best is very far from mere… ![“Collecting at its best is very far from mere acquisitiveness; it may become one of the most humanistic of occupations, seeking to illustrate by the assembling of significant reliques, the march of the human spirit in its quest for beauty...” quote by Arthur Davison Ficke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/arthur-davison-ficke-63249_assembling_collecting-at-its-best-is-very-far-from_1442088.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/arthur-davison-ficke-63249_assembling_collecting-at-its-best-is-very-far-from_1442088.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/arthur-davison-ficke-63249_assembling_collecting-at-its-best-is-very-far-from_1442088.jpg) > “Collecting at its best is very far from mere acquisitiveness; it may become one of the most humanistic of occupations, seeking to illustrate by the assembling of significant reliques, the march of the human spirit in its quest for beauty...” [Arthur Davison Ficke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-davison-ficke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Collecting can transcend greed, becoming a humanistic pursuit that preserves cultural heritage and celebrates beauty. **In simple terms:** Collecting can be a noble, artistic act. Key Takeaway Value objects for their cultural meaning. Themes culture beauty humanism Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - museum curation - personal collections - archaeology - art history Key Concepts heritage preservation aesthetic appreciation Questions to Reflect On - What motivates your collecting? - How does your collection reflect broader human stories? A Different Perspective Collecting may still be driven by status or profit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Collectors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectors/) [Human spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-spirit/) [Humanistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanistic/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Occupation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupation/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) ## Related quotes > [The collector attempts always to acquire the best, and his knowledge of what is best is always widening. His is the task of judging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-davison-ficke/the-collector-attempts-always-to-acquire-the-best-and-his-knowledge/) [Arthur Davison Ficke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-davison-ficke/) > [And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, consult how we may henceforth most offend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-re-assembling-our-afflicted-powers-consult-how-we-may-henceforth/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [A mob is usually a creature of very mysterious existence, particularly in a large city. Where it comes from, or whither it goes, few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/a-mob-is-usually-a-creature-of-very-mysterious-existence-particularly/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In assembling this group of portraits of women, I'm aware that I'm treading on dangerous ground. When I was in college, I learned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-soth/in-assembling-this-group-of-portraits-of-women-i-m-aware-that-i-m/) [Alec Soth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-soth/) > [For years (decades even), I genuinely believed that world would beat a path to my books and stories, but eventually, as everything I wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bradfield/for-years-decades-even-i-genuinely-believed-that-world-would-beat-a/) [Scott Bradfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bradfield/) > [I was conducted in the evening to a tavern where several of the weavers who advocate the principles of the People's Charter were in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mayhew/i-was-conducted-in-the-evening-to-a-tavern-where-several-of-the/) [Henry Mayhew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mayhew/) > [You can't simply know something by assembling a committee of words! That's it! I'll assemble your comittee! -Professor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/futurama/you-can-t-simply-know-something-by-assembling-a-committee-of-words/) [Futurama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/futurama/) > [God never asked us to meet life's pressures and demands on our own terms or by relying upon our own strength. Nor did He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-never-asked-us-to-meet-life-s-pressures-and-demands-on-our-own/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I did 50 takes on Robert Shaw assembling the Greener Gun on 'Jaws.' The shark wasn't working, so I just kept shooting to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-did-50-takes-on-robert-shaw-assembling-the-greener-gun-on-jaws-the/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I'm always going to be making costumes. It's one of the ways I relax my brain. In addition to the pleasure of having the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-savage/i-m-always-going-to-be-making-costumes-it-s-one-of-the-ways-i-relax/) [Adam Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-savage/) > [As artists, are we quasi psychiatrists who mend the soul? Do we provide the consolations, escapes, and reassurances which enable us to survive? Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-sherman/as-artists-are-we-quasi-psychiatrists-who-mend-the-soul-do-we-provide/) [Russell Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-sherman/) > [The metaphor that I frequently use for entrepreneurship is jumping off a cliff and assembling an airplane plane on the way down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/the-metaphor-that-i-frequently-use-for-entrepreneurship-is-jumping/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [The entrepreneurial journey starts with jumping off a cliff and assembling an airplane on the way down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/the-entrepreneurial-journey-starts-with-jumping-off-a-cliff-and/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [Being a Dad is the greatest, except for assembling things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/being-a-dad-is-the-greatest-except-for-assembling-things/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Watch a French housewife as she makes her way slowly along the loaded stalls... searching for the peak of ripeness and flavor... What you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-floyd/watch-a-french-housewife-as-she-makes-her-way-slowly-along-the-loaded/) [Keith Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-floyd/) ## More by Arthur Davison Ficke > [A man must learn to forgive himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-davison-ficke/a-man-must-learn-to-forgive-himself/) [Arthur Davison Ficke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-davison-ficke/) > [The collector attempts always to acquire the best, and his knowledge of what is best is always widening. His is the task of judging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-davison-ficke/the-collector-attempts-always-to-acquire-the-best-and-his-knowledge/) [Arthur Davison Ficke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-davison-ficke/) > [Love is the simplest of all earthly things. It needs no grandeur of celestial trust In more than what it is, no holy wings:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-davison-ficke/love-is-the-simplest-of-all-earthly-things-it-needs-no-grandeur-of/) [Arthur Davison Ficke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-davison-ficke/) > [Secret Instructions for Reaching Xanadu: Go eastward from the Bewildered-Dragon Lake Until you see the Monastery of the West Tower straight and high above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-davison-ficke/secret-instructions-for-reaching-xanadu-go-eastward-from-the/) [Arthur Davison Ficke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-davison-ficke/) [Explore all 5 Arthur Davison Ficke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-davison-ficke/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Collecting at its best is very far from mere acquisitiveness; it may become one of the most humanistic of occupations, seeking to illustrate by the assembling of significant reliques, the march of the human spirit in its quest for beauty...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur Davison Ficke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-davison-ficke/collecting-at-its-best-is-very-far-from-mere-acquisitiveness-it-may/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-davison-ficke/collecting-at-its-best-is-very-far-from-mere-acquisitiveness-it-may/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/arthur-davison-ficke-63249_assembling_collecting-at-its-best-is-very-far-from_1442088.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/arthur-davison-ficke-63249_assembling_collecting-at-its-best-is-very-far-from_1442088.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/arthur-davison-ficke-63249_assembling_collecting-at-its-best-is-very-far-from_1442088.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Collecting at its best is very far from mere acquisitiveness; it may become one of the most humanistic of…” — Arthur Davison Ficke", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Arthur Davison Ficke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-davison-ficke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Collecting at its best is very...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-davison-ficke/collecting-at-its-best-is-very-far-from-mere-acquisitiveness-it-may/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-davison-ficke/collecting-at-its-best-is-very-far-from-mere-acquisitiveness-it-may/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```