--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In truth, the best long-term explanations…" description: "\"In truth, the best long-term explanations about our ancient counterparts can be found in the paintings, sculpture, crafts, tools of utility, language a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/edward-j-fraughton-44934_ancient_in-truth-the-best-long-term-explanations_557276.png" --- # In truth, the best long-term explanations about our… ![“In truth, the best long-term explanations about our ancient counterparts can be found in the paintings, sculpture, crafts, tools of utility, language and architecture left behind. These are the building blocks of civilization we call culture. These are what we call 'the arts.” quote by Edward J. Fraughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/edward-j-fraughton-44934_ancient_in-truth-the-best-long-term-explanations_557276.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/edward-j-fraughton-44934_ancient_in-truth-the-best-long-term-explanations_557276.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/edward-j-fraughton-44934_ancient_in-truth-the-best-long-term-explanations_557276.png) > “In truth, the best long-term explanations about our ancient counterparts can be found in the paintings, sculpture, crafts, tools of utility, language and architecture left behind. These are the building blocks of civilization we call culture. These are what we call 'the arts.” [Edward J. Fraughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-j-fraughton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Material artifacts reveal the values, beliefs, and daily life of past societies, forming the basis of what we call culture and the arts. **In simple terms:** Objects from the past show how people lived and thought. Key Takeaway Study artifacts to understand cultural roots. Themes history art anthropology archaeology Mood reflective inquisitive Type analytical educational When to use this quote - museum curation - archaeological digs - heritage education - urban planning Key Concepts material culture symbolic meaning identity formation Questions to Reflect On - How do we interpret meaning from silent objects? - What modern biases affect our reading of ancient art? A Different Perspective Artifacts alone cannot capture intangible beliefs or oral traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Building blocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building-blocks/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Crafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafts/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Left behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-behind/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Sculpture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sculpture/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“For a long time the human instinct to understand was thwarted by facile religious explanations, as in ancient Greece in the time of Homer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/for-a-long-time-the-human-instinct-to-understand-was-thwarted-by/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Culture is the arts elevated to a set of beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/culture-is-the-arts-elevated-to-a-set-of-beliefs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Generally, the French highly promote culture and the arts, and photography is in their blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/generally-the-french-highly-promote-culture-and-the-arts-and/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) > [Soccer is an art more central to our culture than anything the Arts Council deigns to recognize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-greer/soccer-is-an-art-more-central-to-our-culture-than-anything-the-arts/) [Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/) > [The influence of culture and arts is much larger than the influence of economy sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-won-soon/the-influence-of-culture-and-arts-is-much-larger-than-the-influence/) [Park Won-soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-won-soon/) > [There's the inherent value of the arts in terms of what that does for the quality of life and culture. The arts - in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schenkkan/there-s-the-inherent-value-of-the-arts-in-terms-of-what-that-does-for/) Robert Schenkkan > [The seeds of civilization are in every culture, but it is city life that brings them to fruition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanne-katherina-langer/the-seeds-of-civilization-are-in-every-culture-but-it-is-city-life/) [Susanne Katherina Langer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanne-katherina-langer/) > [If you really want to define civilization it should be a culture that doesn't destroy its environment. If you burn down the kitchen one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sting/if-you-really-want-to-define-civilization-it-should-be-a-culture-that/) [Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sting/) > [The truest test of civilization, culture and dignity is character and not clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-truest-test-of-civilization-culture-and-dignity-is-character-and/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [From the beginning, this culture - civilization - has been a culture of occupation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/from-the-beginning-this-culture-civilization-has-been-a-culture-of/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [So the conclusion that I reach, visa vie the individual and civilization, is this: Culture is not our friend. Culture is not your friend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/so-the-conclusion-that-i-reach-visa-vie-the-individual-and/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [A civilization, a culture, cannot survive without passion, cannot be saved without passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/a-civilization-a-culture-cannot-survive-without-passion-cannot-be/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [The worth of a civilization or a culture is not valued in the terms of its material wealth or military power, but by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/the-worth-of-a-civilization-or-a-culture-is-not-valued-in-the-terms/) [Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/) > [“A singular confusion exists about the notions of 'culture' and 'civilization'. Culture began with the 'prologue in heaven.' With its religion, art, ethics, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alija-izetbegovic/a-singular-confusion-exists-about-the-notions-of-culture-and/) [Alija Izetbegović](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alija-izetbegovic/) > [An important question to ask is, 'Where and when did decoration and utility first meet?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-j-fraughton/an-important-question-to-ask-is-where-and-when-did-decoration-and/) [Edward J. Fraughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-j-fraughton/) ## More by Edward J. Fraughton > [The artist's quest is to succeed in combining and balancing all compositional attributes and physical elements into those that are purely spiritual. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-j-fraughton/the-artist-s-quest-is-to-succeed-in-combining-and-balancing-all/) [Edward J. Fraughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-j-fraughton/) > [An important question to ask is, 'Where and when did decoration and utility first meet?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-j-fraughton/an-important-question-to-ask-is-where-and-when-did-decoration-and/) [Edward J. Fraughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-j-fraughton/) > [Art is real and imaginary, two worlds rolled into one - the fulfillment of the artist's insatiable soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-j-fraughton/art-is-real-and-imaginary-two-worlds-rolled-into-one-the-fulfillment/) [Edward J. Fraughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-j-fraughton/) > [When one studies the structure of the universe, it becomes clear that the sciences are as aesthetic as the arts, and the arts are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-j-fraughton/when-one-studies-the-structure-of-the-universe-it-becomes-clear-that/) [Edward J. Fraughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-j-fraughton/) > [With a curious zeal to better understand our own existence, we often go far out of our way to find out who we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-j-fraughton/with-a-curious-zeal-to-better-understand-our-own-existence-we-often/) [Edward J. Fraughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-j-fraughton/) > [Remember, a word is an invention, a symbol for an idea. Written text began as an artistic representation of a thought or event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-j-fraughton/remember-a-word-is-an-invention-a-symbol-for-an-idea-written-text/) [Edward J. Fraughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-j-fraughton/) > [Sculpture is a series of 3-dimensional shapes which, while fitting together, cause the perception of lines to the viewer, even where they do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-j-fraughton/sculpture-is-a-series-of-3-dimensional-shapes-which-while-fitting/) [Edward J. Fraughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-j-fraughton/) > [Art is the supreme communicator of diverse cultures and ideas in a common frame of understanding, a virtual bridge across time. It is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-j-fraughton/art-is-the-supreme-communicator-of-diverse-cultures-and-ideas-in-a/) [Edward J. Fraughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-j-fraughton/) [Explore all 9 Edward J. Fraughton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-j-fraughton/) ## More Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [All the stories I have told you are finally as useless as all ancient knowledge is to man and to us. Its images and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/all-the-stories-i-have-told-you-are-finally-as-useless-as-all-ancient/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [So what if I'm ninety-three? So what if I'm ancient and cranky and my body's a wreck? If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [Science has revealed a universe that is vast, ancient, violent, strange, and beautiful, a universe of almost infinite variety and possibility one in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/science-has-revealed-a-universe-that-is-vast-ancient-violent-strange/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) [Browse all 2,415 Ancient quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In truth, the best long-term explanations about our ancient counterparts can be found in the paintings, sculpture, crafts, tools of utility, language and architecture left behind. These are the building blocks of civilization we call culture. 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