--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We shed as we pick up, like travellers…" description: "\"“We shed as we pick up, like travellers who must carry everything in their arms, and what we let fall will be picked up by those behind. The procession..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/tom-stoppard-437_arcadia_we-shed-as-we-pick-up-like-travellers-wh_925327.png" --- # We shed as we pick up, like travellers who must carry… ![“We shed as we pick up, like travellers who must carry everything in their arms, and what we let fall will be picked up by those behind. The procession is very long and life is very short. We die on the march. But there is nothing outside the march so nothing can be lost to it. The missing plays of…” quote by Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/tom-stoppard-437_arcadia_we-shed-as-we-pick-up-like-travellers-wh_925327.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/tom-stoppard-437_arcadia_we-shed-as-we-pick-up-like-travellers-wh_925327.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/tom-stoppard-437_arcadia_we-shed-as-we-pick-up-like-travellers-wh_925327.png) > ““We shed as we pick up, like travellers who must carry everything in their arms, and what we let fall will be picked up by those behind. The procession is very long and life is very short. We die on the march. But there is nothing outside the march so nothing can be lost to it. The missing plays of Sophocles will turn up piece by piece, or be written again in another language. Ancient cures for diseases will reveal themselves once more. Mathematical discoveries glimpsed and lost to view will have their time again. You do not suppose, my lady, that if all of Archimedes had been hiding in the great library of Alexandria, we would be at a loss for a corkscrew?”” [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideas and knowledge are passed down through generations; what is lost reappears later in new forms. **In simple terms:** Knowledge is transferred and rediscovered over time. Key Takeaway Preserve and share what you learn. Themes knowledge legacy continuity Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - research - archiving - storytelling - mentorship Key Concepts cultural transmission rediscovery intergenerational learning Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure lost ideas are revived? - What role does each person play in cultural memory? A Different Perspective Only if we neglect sharing does valuable insight disappear. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arcadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arcadia/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [We shed as we pick up, like travellers who must carry everything in their arms, and what we let fall will be picked up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/we-shed-as-we-pick-up-like-travellers-who-must-carry-everything-in/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“We shed as we pick up, like travelers who must carry everything in their arms, and what we let fall will be picked up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/we-shed-as-we-pick-up-like-travelers-who-must-carry-everything-in/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“THOMASINA: …the enemy who burned the great library of Alexandria without so much as a fine for all that is overdue. Oh, Septimus! --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/thomasina-the-enemy-who-burned-the-great-library-of-alexandria/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“May the dead forgive me, I can do no other But as I am commanded; to do more is madness." - Ismene, Antigone (The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/may-the-dead-forgive-me-i-can-do-no-other-but-as-i-am-commanded-to-do-2/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [The time was simply ripe for the disappearance of tonality. Naturally this was a fierce struggle; inhibitions of the most frightful kind had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/the-time-was-simply-ripe-for-the-disappearance-of-tonality-naturally/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [“Tallis with no pedal, Handel with, even the horrible organ piece that had been written for someone with three hands. He had thought it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-pulley/tallis-with-no-pedal-handel-with-even-the-horrible-organ-piece-that/) [Natasha Pulley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-pulley/) > [What I do is creative. It doesn't seem like that when I'm playing a piece that was written in the past, but the score…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-hahn/what-i-do-is-creative-it-doesn-t-seem-like-that-when-i-m-playing-a/) [Hilary Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-hahn/) > [“This work is the link between my Dear Natalie piece and my upcoming Agatha work. It bridges that lapse in time and shows how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/this-work-is-the-link-between-my-dear-natalie-piece-and-my-upcoming/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Fifty-five crystal spheres geared to God’s crankshaft is my idea of a satisfying universe. I can’t think of anything more trivial than quarks, quasars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/fifty-five-crystal-spheres-geared-to-god-s-crankshaft-is-my-idea-of-a/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [If you could stop every atom in its position and direction, and if your mind could comprehend all the actions thus suspended, then if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-you-could-stop-every-atom-in-its-position-and-direction-and-if/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“Tom Stoppard’s other work includes: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Jumpers, Travesties, Night and Day, After Magritte, The Real Thing, Enter A Free Man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/tom-stoppard-s-other-work-includes-rosencrantz-and-guildenstern-are/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > ['Arcadia' is obviously a play that's got interesting things in it that are perhaps quite hard to grasp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/arcadia-is-obviously-a-play-that-s-got-interesting-things-in-it-that/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [It's the wanting to know that makes us matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/it-s-the-wanting-to-know-that-makes-us-matter/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [There's no doubt about it. Arcadia is Tom Stoppard's richest, most ravishing comedy to date, a play of wit, intellect, language, brio and, new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-canby/there-s-no-doubt-about-it-arcadia-is-tom-stoppard-s-richest-most/) [Vincent Canby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-canby/) > [“Et in Arcadia Ego”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/numerous-evelyn-waugh/et-in-arcadia-ego/) Numerous Evelyn Waugh ## More by Tom Stoppard > [If I wanted to change the world, the last thing I would do is write a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-i-wanted-to-change-the-world-the-last-thing-i-would-do-is-write-a/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [If you want to change something by Tuesday, theater is no good. Journalism is what does that. But, if you want to just alter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-you-want-to-change-something-by-tuesday-theater-is-no-good/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [After all these years, I definitely associate having a pen in my hand with having an ashtray just out of eye line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/after-all-these-years-i-definitely-associate-having-a-pen-in-my-hand/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [The universe is deterministic all right, just like Newton said, I mean it's trying to be, but the only thing going wrong is people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/the-universe-is-deterministic-all-right-just-like-newton-said-i-mean/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [For me, human rights simply endorse a view of life and a set of moral values that are perfectly clear to an eight-year-old child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/for-me-human-rights-simply-endorse-a-view-of-life-and-a-set-of-moral/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“What is an artist? For every thousand people there's nine hundred doing the work, ninety doing well, nine doing good, and one lucky bastard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/what-is-an-artist-for-every-thousand-people-there-s-nine-hundred/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Dying is not romantic, and death is not a game which will soon be over... Death is not anything... death is not... It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/dying-is-not-romantic-and-death-is-not-a-game-which-will-soon-be-over/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I'm not interested in clothes; I just like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-m-not-interested-in-clothes-i-just-like-them/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [For 10 years of my life, 3 times a day, I thanked the Lord for what I was about to receive and thanked him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/for-10-years-of-my-life-3-times-a-day-i-thanked-the-lord-for-what-i/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [You should not translate for more than two hours at a time. After that, you lose your edge, the language becomes clumsy, rigid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/you-should-not-translate-for-more-than-two-hours-at-a-time-after-that/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [No matter how imperfect things are, if you've got a free press everything is correctable, and without it everything is concealable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/no-matter-how-imperfect-things-are-if-you-ve-got-a-free-press/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [We must be born with an intuition of mortality. Before we know the word for it. Before we know that there are words. Out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/we-must-be-born-with-an-intuition-of-mortality-before-we-know-the/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Eternity's a terrible thought. I mean, where's it all going to end?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/eternity-s-a-terrible-thought-i-mean-where-s-it-all-going-to-end/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [There is truth and falsehood in a comma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/there-is-truth-and-falsehood-in-a-comma/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) [Explore all 559 Tom Stoppard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## More Arcadia quotes > [“Et in Arcadia Ego”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/numerous-evelyn-waugh/et-in-arcadia-ego/) Numerous Evelyn Waugh > [There's no doubt about it. Arcadia is Tom Stoppard's richest, most ravishing comedy to date, a play of wit, intellect, language, brio and, new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-canby/there-s-no-doubt-about-it-arcadia-is-tom-stoppard-s-richest-most/) [Vincent Canby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-canby/) > [I dwell no more in Arcady, But when the sky is blue with May, And birds are blithe and winds are free, I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-chandler-moulton/i-dwell-no-more-in-arcady-but-when-the-sky-is-blue-with-may-and-birds/) Louise Chandler Moulton > [“I honed my fraud research techniques at the dangerous Desoto Solar Farm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-honed-my-fraud-research-techniques-at-the-dangerous-desoto-solar/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“So..."he whispered huskily in my ear, "we've discovered that you can arouse me." He demonstrated this fact by pressing harder against me, just in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-bennett/so-he-whispered-huskily-in-my-ear-we-ve-discovered-that-you-can/) [Jenn Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenn-bennett/) > [It's the wanting to know that makes us matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/it-s-the-wanting-to-know-that-makes-us-matter/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“At all times and in all places, in season and out of season, time is now and England, place is now and England; past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-m-w-wemyss/at-all-times-and-in-all-places-in-season-and-out-of-season-time-is/) [G.M.W. Wemyss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-m-w-wemyss/) > [“I spent a lot of time in Arcadia when I worked there in 2009.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-spent-a-lot-of-time-in-arcadia-when-i-worked-there-in-2009/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Bind Merrimoth," he finally said, "and I'll do that think you like later." "It's not like my power reacts to the reward system," I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-bennett/bind-merrimoth-he-finally-said-and-i-ll-do-that-think-you-like-later/) [Jenn Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenn-bennett/) > [Alas! the road to Anywhere is pitfalled with disaster; There's hunger, want, and weariness, yet O we loved it so! As on we tramped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-service/alas-the-road-to-anywhere-is-pitfalled-with-disaster-there-s-hunger/) [Robert W. Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-service/) > [Years ago I had a house in Sussex, it was like Arcadia, with an old Victorian bridge, a pond and the Downs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-roeg/years-ago-i-had-a-house-in-sussex-it-was-like-arcadia-with-an-old/) [Nicolas Roeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-roeg/) > [Performing on stage is my first love - it's why I wanted to be an actor in the first place - and 'Arcadia' is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-riley/performing-on-stage-is-my-first-love-it-s-why-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor/) [Tom Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-riley/) > [“I regard an illegal non-disclosure termination agreement as an admission of guilt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-regard-an-illegal-non-disclosure-termination-agreement-as-an/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“… the countryside and the village are symbols of stability and security, of order. Yet they are also, as I have noted, liminal spaces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-m-w-wemyss/the-countryside-and-the-village-are-symbols-of-stability-and-security/) [G.M.W. Wemyss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-m-w-wemyss/) > ['Arcadia' is obviously a play that's got interesting things in it that are perhaps quite hard to grasp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/arcadia-is-obviously-a-play-that-s-got-interesting-things-in-it-that/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) [Browse all 40 Arcadia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arcadia/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We shed as we pick up, like travellers who must carry everything in their arms, and what we let fall will be picked up by those behind. The procession is very long and life is very short. We die on the march. But there is nothing outside the march so nothing can be lost to it. 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