--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you strip away the rhetoric…" description: "\"When you strip away the rhetoric, preservation is simply having the good sense to hold on to things that are well designed, that link us with our past ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/richard-moe-78765_good-sense_when-you-strip-away-the-rhetoric-preserv_1617758.jpg" --- # When you strip away the rhetoric, preservation is simply… ![“When you strip away the rhetoric, preservation is simply having the good sense to hold on to things that are well designed, that link us with our past in a meaningful way, and that have plenty of good use left in them.” quote by Richard Moe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/richard-moe-78765_good-sense_when-you-strip-away-the-rhetoric-preserv_1617758.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/richard-moe-78765_good-sense_when-you-strip-away-the-rhetoric-preserv_1617758.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/richard-moe-78765_good-sense_when-you-strip-away-the-rhetoric-preserv_1617758.jpg) > “When you strip away the rhetoric, preservation is simply having the good sense to hold on to things that are well designed, that link us with our past in a meaningful way, and that have plenty of good use left in them.” Richard Moe ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Preservation means valuing well‑designed objects that connect us to history and remain useful. **In simple terms:** Keep useful, well‑designed things that link us to history. Key Takeaway Value and maintain useful, well‑designed items. Themes heritage design utility history Mood reflective nostalgic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - museum curation - home décor - urban planning - family heirlooms - educational exhibits Key Concepts cultural continuity sustainability material culture Questions to Reflect On - What objects in your life deserve preservation? - How do you balance new design with historic value? A Different Perspective Preservation can be costly and may conflict with modern needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-sense/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Our past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-past/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preservation/) [Rhetoric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhetoric/) ## Related quotes > [I am a strong believer that as one moves toward the future, the strongest and clearest way to do it is if you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/i-am-a-strong-believer-that-as-one-moves-toward-the-future-the/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“To protect the separate self, we push certain things away, while to bolster it we hold on to other things and identify with them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/to-protect-the-separate-self-we-push-certain-things-away-while-to/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [I am tired of trying to hold things together that cannot be held. 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I have observed for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-masterson/there-are-many-in-this-old-world-of-ours-who-hold-that-things-break/) [Bat Masterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-masterson/) > [Conservatives hold on to things not only because they are attached to them, but also because they do not see the sense in radical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/conservatives-hold-on-to-things-not-only-because-they-are-attached-to/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [I have learned to hold all things loosely, so God will not have to pry them out of my hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/i-have-learned-to-hold-all-things-loosely-so-god-will-not-have-to-pry/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) ## More by Richard Moe > [Buffalo is one of America's great designed cities. 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