Writer Quote by Isaac Asimov
““The Library was outmoded and archaic—it had been so even in Ebling Mis's time—but that was all to the good. Pelorat always rubbed his hands with excitement when he thought of an old and outmoded Library. The older and the more outmoded, the more likely it was to have what he needed. In his dreams, he would enter the Library and ask in breathless alarm, 'Has the Library been modernized? Have you thrown out the old tapes and computerizations?' And always he imagined the answer from dusty and ancient librarians, 'As it has been, Professor, so it is still.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Foundation's Edge by Isaac Asimov, 1982
The quote humorously suggests that outdated institutions can be valuable because they preserve forgotten knowledge, and that modernization may discard useful resources.
In simple terms: Old libraries may hold hidden treasures despite being outdated.
Key Takeaway
Value and old resources; don’t dismiss them.
Themes
history
knowledge
preservation
technology
innovation
Mood
nostalgic
reflective
cautious
Type
literary
philosophical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- research
- archival work
- technology upgrades
- library management
Key Concepts
archival value
information entropy
cultural continuity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance progress with preservation?
- What criteria decide what old knowledge to keep?
A Different Perspective
Modernization can erase irreplaceable information if not carefully managed.
