--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A museum has to renew its collection to…" description: "\"A museum has to renew its collection to be alive, but that does not mean we give on important old works.\" — David Rockefeller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/david-rockefeller-8932_alive_a-museum-has-to-renew-its-collection-to_2854050.jpg" --- # A museum has to renew its collection to be alive, but that… ![“A museum has to renew its collection to be alive, but that does not mean we give on important old works.” quote by David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/david-rockefeller-8932_alive_a-museum-has-to-renew-its-collection-to_2854050.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/david-rockefeller-8932_alive_a-museum-has-to-renew-its-collection-to_2854050.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/david-rockefeller-8932_alive_a-museum-has-to-renew-its-collection-to_2854050.jpg) > “A museum has to renew its collection to be alive, but that does not mean we give on important old works.” [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Museums must refresh collections to stay vibrant, yet preserve important classics. **In simple terms:** Renewal is vital, but not at the cost of classics. Key Takeaway Balance innovation with preservation. Themes culture heritage evolution Mood thoughtful strategic Type philosophical professional When to use this quote - exhibition planning - collection audits - educational programs Key Concepts curatorial strategy public engagement artistic relevance Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide which works to retire? - What criteria guide new acquisitions? A Different Perspective Budget constraints limit acquisitions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Collection Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collection-alive-3814555/) [Collections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collections/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Museum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/museum/) [Museum Renew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/museum-renew-3814553/) [Museums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/museums/) [Old Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-works-2329249/) [Renew Collection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renew-collection-3814554/) ## Related quotes > [The idea of going on tour for the rest of my life with old works is not that exciting. As an artist I definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/the-idea-of-going-on-tour-for-the-rest-of-my-life-with-old-works-is/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [There's a richness to the old works if you look before the 1950s. The chord progressions and the language was more complicated, especially in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/there-s-a-richness-to-the-old-works-if-you-look-before-the-1950s-the/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [It's not the subject of narration that interests me, but the structure. That's why I stay in touch with my old works, which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dumitru-tepeneag/it-s-not-the-subject-of-narration-that-interests-me-but-the-structure/) [Dumitru Tepeneag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dumitru-tepeneag/) > [An artist may visit a museum but only a pedant can live there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/an-artist-may-visit-a-museum-but-only-a-pedant-can-live-there/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [I love going to museums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-nielsen/i-love-going-to-museums/) [Connie Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-nielsen/) > [Bilbao opened in 1997. It was only ten years later that I was asked to do another museum. A lot of other people got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/bilbao-opened-in-1997-it-was-only-ten-years-later-that-i-was-asked-to/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [I'm noticing a new approach to art making in recent museum and gallery shows. It flickered into focus at the New Museum's 'Younger Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/i-m-noticing-a-new-approach-to-art-making-in-recent-museum-and/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [There are hundreds of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings around the United States and in other countries, too. Wright lived into his 90s, and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/there-are-hundreds-of-frank-lloyd-wright-buildings-around-the-united/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [To have a museum like the Museum of Modern Art in New York is to have power. I don't have any interest in being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gonzalez/to-have-a-museum-like-the-museum-of-modern-art-in-new-york-is-to-have/) [Luis Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gonzalez/) > [What I am out to do is make sure that the Met continues to be the most exciting encyclopedic museum in the world. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-p-campbell/what-i-am-out-to-do-is-make-sure-that-the-met-continues-to-be-the/) [Thomas P. Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-p-campbell/) > [I spent more than ten years working on the Neues Museum. It was a wonderful experience, an example of real collaboration between architects, conservationists,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chipperfield/i-spent-more-than-ten-years-working-on-the-neues-museum-it-was-a/) [David Chipperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chipperfield/) > [The Frankfurt Museum of Decorative Arts is a handsome building, which takes its cues from the riverside Biedermeier villa next to it, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-filler/the-frankfurt-museum-of-decorative-arts-is-a-handsome-building-which/) [Martin Filler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-filler/) > [I like to go to art museums and name the untitled paintings... Boy With Pail... Kitten On Fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-like-to-go-to-art-museums-and-name-the-untitled-paintings-boy-with/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I do not exactly remember at what period I started my museum which absorbed so much of my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-loti/i-do-not-exactly-remember-at-what-period-i-started-my-museum-which/) [Pierre Loti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-loti/) > [We have created indoor installations inside museums, like the Wrapped Floor at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago in 1968, and not monumental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christo/we-have-created-indoor-installations-inside-museums-like-the-wrapped/) [Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christo/) ## More by David Rockefeller > [I realize how fortunate I have been; mine has been a wonderful life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/i-realize-how-fortunate-i-have-been-mine-has-been-a-wonderful-life/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [There have been people.. ever since I've had any kind of position in the world.. who have accused me of being ruler of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/there-have-been-people-ever-since-i-ve-had-any-kind-of-position-in/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [Father was the eldest son and the heir apparent, and he set the standard for being a Rockefeller very high, so every achievement was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/father-was-the-eldest-son-and-the-heir-apparent-and-he-set-the/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [Philanthropy is involved with basic innovations that transform society, not simply maintaining the status quo or filling basic social needs that were formerly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/philanthropy-is-involved-with-basic-innovations-that-transform/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [“...we are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States... If that's the charge, I stand guilty, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/we-are-part-of-a-secret-cabal-working-against-the-best-interests-of/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [Only once in my life was I on the edge of incivility. I do not like to be unkind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/only-once-in-my-life-was-i-on-the-edge-of-incivility-i-do-not-like-to/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [I can only say that I have had a wonderful life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/i-can-only-say-that-i-have-had-a-wonderful-life/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subjected to the lights of publicity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/it-would-have-been-impossible-for-us-to-develop-our-plan-for-the/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [Much corporate giving is charitable in nature rather than philanthropic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/much-corporate-giving-is-charitable-in-nature-rather-than/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [Bilderberger Meeting: The world is now more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/bilderberger-meeting-the-world-is-now-more-sophisticated-and-prepared/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [Mother's interest in contemporary American artists emerged during the 1920s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/mother-s-interest-in-contemporary-american-artists-emerged-during-the/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [I learned more from my mother than from all the art historians and curators who have informed me about technical aspects of art history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/i-learned-more-from-my-mother-than-from-all-the-art-historians-and/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [Success in business requires training and discipline and hard work. But if you're not frightened by these things, the opportunities are just as great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/success-in-business-requires-training-and-discipline-and-hard-work/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [I never kept a diary, but I wrote detailed notes of my travels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/i-never-kept-a-diary-but-i-wrote-detailed-notes-of-my-travels/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [Mother's taste was eclectic and ranged from the ancient world to the contemporary from Europe to the U.S.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/mother-s-taste-was-eclectic-and-ranged-from-the-ancient-world-to-the/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) [Explore all 76 David Rockefeller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A museum has to renew its collection to be alive, but that does not mean we give on important old works.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Rockefeller" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/a-museum-has-to-renew-its-collection-to-be-alive-but-that-does-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/a-museum-has-to-renew-its-collection-to-be-alive-but-that-does-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/david-rockefeller-8932_alive_a-museum-has-to-renew-its-collection-to_2854050.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/david-rockefeller-8932_alive_a-museum-has-to-renew-its-collection-to_2854050.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/david-rockefeller-8932_alive_a-museum-has-to-renew-its-collection-to_2854050.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A museum has to renew its collection to be alive, but that does not mean we give on important old works.” — David Rockefeller", "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": "David Rockefeller", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A museum has to renew its...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/a-museum-has-to-renew-its-collection-to-be-alive-but-that-does-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/a-museum-has-to-renew-its-collection-to-be-alive-but-that-does-not/#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 } } ] } ```