---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To a collector of curios, the dust is…"
description: "\"To a collector of curios, the dust is metadata.\" — David Weinberger"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/david-weinberger-20574_collectors_to-a-collector-of-curios-the-dust-is-met_2066081.jpg"
---

#  To a collector of curios, the dust is metadata.

![“To a collector of curios, the dust is metadata.” quote by David Weinberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/david-weinberger-20574_collectors_to-a-collector-of-curios-the-dust-is-met_2066081.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/david-weinberger-20574_collectors_to-a-collector-of-curios-the-dust-is-met_2066081.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/david-weinberger-20574_collectors_to-a-collector-of-curios-the-dust-is-met_2066081.jpg)

> “To a collector of curios, the dust is metadata.”

[David Weinberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weinberger/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Objects we collect hold hidden information that can be used to understand larger patterns.

**In simple terms:** Collecting reveals hidden data.

Key Takeaway

Observe and record details.

Themes

curiosity metadata collection

Mood

analytical reflective

Type

observational insightful

When to use this quote

- archival work
- research
- data analysis

Key Concepts

information theory digital humanities

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you turn everyday items into useful data?
- What patterns emerge from your collections?

A Different Perspective

Metadata can be overwhelming without context.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Collectors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectors/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Metadata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metadata/)

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> [I still can't spend a lot of money on records at collector prices. There's something in me that just won't allow me to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-still-can-t-spend-a-lot-of-money-on-records-at-collector-prices/)

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> [I'm a record collector. I've got over 2000 records. It's so nice for me to have records that are me. That's me on there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-hoyston/i-m-a-record-collector-i-ve-got-over-2000-records-it-s-so-nice-for-me/)

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> [I'm not a collector. I don't like the toy cupboard syndrome that causes so many good cars to evaporate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/i-m-not-a-collector-i-don-t-like-the-toy-cupboard-syndrome-that/)

[Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/)

> [After Strangelove I also started work on an adaptation of The Collector.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-southern/after-strangelove-i-also-started-work-on-an-adaptation-of-the/)

[Terry Southern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-southern/)

> [I like sneakers. I guess I could call myself a collector.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-shinoda/i-like-sneakers-i-guess-i-could-call-myself-a-collector/)

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> [I'm not a good collector.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-russell/i-m-not-a-good-collector/)

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## More Collector quotes

> [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/)

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> [Colder than a tax-collector's heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/colder-than-a-tax-collector-s-heart/)

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[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

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[Judith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-miller/)

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Browse all 268 Collector quotes

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