--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people imagine that by returning to…" description: "\"Some people imagine that by returning to tradition, you will renew it. This is not true, for by returning to tradition, you renew nothing. But by setti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/jabra-ibrahim-jabra-64018_imagine_some-people-imagine-that-by-returning-to_1820682.jpg" --- # Some people imagine that by returning to tradition, you… ![“Some people imagine that by returning to tradition, you will renew it. This is not true, for by returning to tradition, you renew nothing. But by setting out from it and adding to it, you renew its power, because only by addition can you prepare the future path for the living sap within it.” quote by Jabra Ibrahim Jabra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/jabra-ibrahim-jabra-64018_imagine_some-people-imagine-that-by-returning-to_1820682.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/jabra-ibrahim-jabra-64018_imagine_some-people-imagine-that-by-returning-to_1820682.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/jabra-ibrahim-jabra-64018_imagine_some-people-imagine-that-by-returning-to_1820682.jpg) > “Some people imagine that by returning to tradition, you will renew it. This is not true, for by returning to tradition, you renew nothing. But by setting out from it and adding to it, you renew its power, because only by addition can you prepare the future path for the living sap within it.” [Jabra Ibrahim Jabra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabra-ibrahim-jabra/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Renewing tradition requires adding new ideas, not merely returning to old forms. **In simple terms:** Tradition evolves when built upon, not just revived. Key Takeaway Add fresh perspectives to existing traditions. Themes culture tradition innovation future Mood reflective optimistic analytical Type philosophical cultural When to use this quote - education reform - heritage preservation - community projects Key Concepts continuity creative synthesis Questions to Reflect On - How can we honor tradition while innovating? - What examples show successful tradition renewal? A Different Perspective Risk of losing core values if change is unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Setting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setting/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) ## Related quotes > [When you need to renew your contract, you must demonstrate why they are renewing your contract.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-pellegrini/when-you-need-to-renew-your-contract-you-must-demonstrate-why-they/) [Manuel Pellegrini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-pellegrini/) > [At the beginning of the nineteenth century we abandoned tradition, it's at that point that I intend to renew it because the present is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/at-the-beginning-of-the-nineteenth-century-we-abandoned-tradition-it/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [The priests say the new dawn will be like the rain that fertilizes the soil before we begin to plant our corn. It will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/the-priests-say-the-new-dawn-will-be-like-the-rain-that-fertilizes/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-must-always-change-renew-rejuvenate-ourselves-otherwise-we-harden/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“Renew each other with love, understanding, and sustenance”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hathaway/renew-each-other-with-love-understanding-and-sustenance/) Mark Hathaway > [“Complacency happens almost without notice. Check and renew your heart daily.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-george/complacency-happens-almost-without-notice-check-and-renew-your-heart/) [Jim George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-george/) > [Renew thyself completely each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/renew-thyself-completely-each-day/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [If you've lost focus, just sit down and be still. Take the idea and rock it to and fro. Keep some of it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/if-you-ve-lost-focus-just-sit-down-and-be-still-take-the-idea-and/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [I think he will probably come round in time, I mean to renew the subject pretty often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-garrett-anderson/i-think-he-will-probably-come-round-in-time-i-mean-to-renew-the/) [Elizabeth Garrett Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-garrett-anderson/) > [It's time to renew our commitment to the world around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dodd/it-s-time-to-renew-our-commitment-to-the-world-around-us/) [Christopher Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dodd/) > [Inside myself is aplace where I live all alone and that's where you renew your springs that never dry up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/inside-myself-is-aplace-where-i-live-all-alone-and-that-s-where-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Redesign, renew, and recharge your brand.” Decide what value you bring to others and give it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/redesign-renew-and-recharge-your-brand-decide-what-value-you-bring-to/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“To read is to renew thy mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/to-read-is-to-renew-thy-mind/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I worked in three local news markets and in every single one of them, they said: 'You're a lousy anchor. We would love to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-vargas/i-worked-in-three-local-news-markets-and-in-every-single-one-of-them/) [Elizabeth Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-vargas/) > [The height of the pulleys from the ground was twelve yards, and consequently, when the weights had descended through that distance, they had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-prescott-joule/the-height-of-the-pulleys-from-the-ground-was-twelve-yards-and/) [James Prescott Joule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-prescott-joule/) ## More by Jabra Ibrahim Jabra > [For tradition to be alive it has to be allowed to be a fountain of power for things undreamt of, things to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabra-ibrahim-jabra/for-tradition-to-be-alive-it-has-to-be-allowed-to-be-a-fountain-of/) [Jabra Ibrahim Jabra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabra-ibrahim-jabra/) > [ They \[Arabs\] wanted to catch up with the modern world. The West appreciated that, but was more interested in colonies, markets, and spheres of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabra-ibrahim-jabra/they-arabs-wanted-to-catch-up-with-the-modern-world-the-west/) [Jabra Ibrahim Jabra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabra-ibrahim-jabra/) > [The artist, surgeon, through clay form, can only look for cure with great obstinacy until he discovers, repeatedly, that love is god's only gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabra-ibrahim-jabra/the-artist-surgeon-through-clay-form-can-only-look-for-cure-with/) [Jabra Ibrahim Jabra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabra-ibrahim-jabra/) > [Here I stand and make Both myth and reality in my own way And live the violence of my dream and of my reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabra-ibrahim-jabra/here-i-stand-and-make-both-myth-and-reality-in-my-own-way-and-live/) [Jabra Ibrahim Jabra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabra-ibrahim-jabra/) [Explore all 5 Jabra Ibrahim Jabra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabra-ibrahim-jabra/) ## More Imagine quotes > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [Many patients imagine that they have tried everything. True, they have used many remedies, but they have never had the cause of their infirmity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/many-patients-imagine-that-they-have-tried-everything-true-they-have/) [Daniel D. 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But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [We live in such a special time when literally anything we can think of is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/we-live-in-such-a-special-time-when-literally-anything-we-can-think/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) > [Imagine what you'd do if it absolutely didn't matter what people thought of you. Got it? Good. Never go back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/imagine-what-you-d-do-if-it-absolutely-didn-t-matter-what-people/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [ Together he \[Girolamo Savonarola\] and his archenemy Lorenzo \[de' Medici\] would have been the stuff of gargoyles. 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