--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A ruin should always be protected but…" description: "\"A ruin should always be protected but never repaired - thus may we witness full the lingering legacies of the past.\" — Walter Scott" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/walter-scott-775_legacies_a-ruin-should-always-be-protected-but-ne_1616181.png" --- # A ruin should always be protected but never repaired… ![“A ruin should always be protected but never repaired - thus may we witness full the lingering legacies of the past.” quote by Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/walter-scott-775_legacies_a-ruin-should-always-be-protected-but-ne_1616181.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/walter-scott-775_legacies_a-ruin-should-always-be-protected-but-ne_1616181.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/walter-scott-775_legacies_a-ruin-should-always-be-protected-but-ne_1616181.png) > “A ruin should always be protected but never repaired - thus may we witness full the lingering legacies of the past.” [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Preserving ruins maintains historical memory, while repairing erases authentic traces of the past. **In simple terms:** Protect ruins, don’t restore them. Key Takeaway Value authenticity over convenience. Themes history preservation authenticity Mood reflective nostalgic Type philosophical cautionary When to use this quote - tourism - urban planning - museum curation - heritage education Key Concepts Cultural heritage memory conservation Questions to Reflect On - Should we always leave ruins untouched? - When does repair become preservation? A Different Perspective Restoration can sometimes be necessary for safety or accessibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Legacies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legacies/) [Legacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legacy/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Ruin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruin/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [When 'Legacies' picked up, we never really saw the history between both of the twins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-rose-russell/when-legacies-picked-up-we-never-really-saw-the-history-between-both/) [Danielle Rose Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-rose-russell/) > [“As writers we intend to make a difference, to alter people's lives for the greater good. . .this is why we write, to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-gutkind/as-writers-we-intend-to-make-a-difference-to-alter-people-s-lives-for/) [Lee Gutkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-gutkind/) > [They got legacies that are godly to me. It was an unbelievable honor to have them real interested in doing something with me. Shortly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busta-rhymes/they-got-legacies-that-are-godly-to-me-it-was-an-unbelievable-honor/) [Busta Rhymes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busta-rhymes/) > [What are the 10 major legacies that European colonization have left behind? Issues of illiteracy. Issues of ill health. Issues of poor infrastructure. Issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-beckles/what-are-the-10-major-legacies-that-european-colonization-have-left/) [Hilary Beckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-beckles/) > [Dying legacies are a miserable substitute for living benevolence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/dying-legacies-are-a-miserable-substitute-for-living-benevolence/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [What a great way to see all of our legacies live on, through the video games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-savage/what-a-great-way-to-see-all-of-our-legacies-live-on-through-the-video/) [Randy Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-savage/) > [“It seems to her that most of what she's done in her life has been of this ilk. Projects, ultimately inconsequential. Who have they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-seems-to-her-that-most-of-what-she-s-done-in-her-life-has-been-of/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“I once expected to spend seven years walking around the world on foot. I walked from Mexico to Panama where the road ended before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitman/i-once-expected-to-spend-seven-years-walking-around-the-world-on-foot/) [George Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitman/) > [What we need now is a nation of great people who live to positively impact others and build enduring legacies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-we-need-now-is-a-nation-of-great-people-who-live-to-positively/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hope that one of my legacies, and I worked to pass it on, is moderation in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-reed/i-hope-that-one-of-my-legacies-and-i-worked-to-pass-it-on-is/) Sam Reed > [Presidential legacies are valuable things, too valuable to be left up to historians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/presidential-legacies-are-valuable-things-too-valuable-to-be-left-up/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [There is no magic on earth strong enough to wipe out the legacies of one's parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/there-is-no-magic-on-earth-strong-enough-to-wipe-out-the-legacies-of/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Maybe it's a reminder from Henri that you're supposed to rake the lawn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/maybe-it-s-a-reminder-from-henri-that-you-re-supposed-to-rake-the-lawn/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/books-are-the-legacies-that-a-great-genius-leaves-to-mankind/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [All good men and women must take responsibility to create legacies that will take the next generation to a level we could only imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/all-good-men-and-women-must-take-responsibility-to-create-legacies/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) ## More by Walter Scott > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Where shall the lover rest, Whom the fates sever From his true maiden's breast, Parted for ever? Where, through groves deep and high, Sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/where-shall-the-lover-rest-whom-the-fates-sever-from-his-true-maiden/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [O! many a shaft, at random sent, Finds mark the archer little meant! And many a word, at random spoken, May soothe or wound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/o-many-a-shaft-at-random-sent-finds-mark-the-archer-little-meant-and/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [And better had they ne'er been born, Who read to doubt, or read to scorn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/and-better-had-they-ne-er-been-born-who-read-to-doubt-or-read-to-scorn/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Where is the coward that would not dare to fight for such a land as Scotland?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/where-is-the-coward-that-would-not-dare-to-fight-for-such-a-land-as/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Loud o'er my head though awful thunders roll, And vivid lightnings flash from pole to pole, Yet 'tis Thy voice, my God, that bids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/loud-o-er-my-head-though-awful-thunders-roll-and-vivid-lightnings/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The race of humankind would perish did they cease to aid each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/the-race-of-humankind-would-perish-did-they-cease-to-aid-each-other/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [“but he had only received that sort of answer usually given by those who are more obstinate in following their own course, than strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/but-he-had-only-received-that-sort-of-answer-usually-given-by-those/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [“Love rules the court, the camp, the grove, and men below, and the saints above, for love is heaven, and heaven is love. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/love-rules-the-court-the-camp-the-grove-and-men-below-and-the-saints/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Fortune may raise up or abuse the ordinary mortal, but the sage and the soldier should have minds beyond her control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/fortune-may-raise-up-or-abuse-the-ordinary-mortal-but-the-sage-and/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [But woe awaits a country when She sees the tears of bearded men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/but-woe-awaits-a-country-when-she-sees-the-tears-of-bearded-men/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [In peace, Love tunes the shepherd's reed; In war, he mounts the warrior's steed; In halls, in gay attire is seen; In hamlets, dances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/in-peace-love-tunes-the-shepherd-s-reed-in-war-he-mounts-the-warrior/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Honour is a homicide and a bloodspiller, that gangs about making frays in the street; but Credit is a decent honest man, that sits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/honour-is-a-homicide-and-a-bloodspiller-that-gangs-about-making-frays/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [“The lovers of the chase say that the hare feels more agony during the pursuit of the greyhounds, than when she is struggling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/the-lovers-of-the-chase-say-that-the-hare-feels-more-agony-during-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [I am she, O most bucolical juvenal, under whose charge are placed the milky mothers of the herd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/i-am-she-o-most-bucolical-juvenal-under-whose-charge-are-placed-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) [Explore all 372 Walter Scott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) ## More Legacies quotes > [When 'Legacies' picked up, we never really saw the history between both of the twins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-rose-russell/when-legacies-picked-up-we-never-really-saw-the-history-between-both/) [Danielle Rose Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-rose-russell/) > [Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/books-are-the-legacies-that-a-great-genius-leaves-to-mankind/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“Maybe it's a reminder from Henri that you're supposed to rake the lawn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/maybe-it-s-a-reminder-from-henri-that-you-re-supposed-to-rake-the-lawn/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [There is no magic on earth strong enough to wipe out the legacies of one's parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/there-is-no-magic-on-earth-strong-enough-to-wipe-out-the-legacies-of/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Presidential legacies are valuable things, too valuable to be left up to historians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/presidential-legacies-are-valuable-things-too-valuable-to-be-left-up/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [I hope that one of my legacies, and I worked to pass it on, is moderation in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-reed/i-hope-that-one-of-my-legacies-and-i-worked-to-pass-it-on-is/) Sam Reed > [What we need now is a nation of great people who live to positively impact others and build enduring legacies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-we-need-now-is-a-nation-of-great-people-who-live-to-positively/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I once expected to spend seven years walking around the world on foot. I walked from Mexico to Panama where the road ended before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitman/i-once-expected-to-spend-seven-years-walking-around-the-world-on-foot/) [George Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitman/) > [“It seems to her that most of what she's done in her life has been of this ilk. Projects, ultimately inconsequential. Who have they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-seems-to-her-that-most-of-what-she-s-done-in-her-life-has-been-of/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [What a great way to see all of our legacies live on, through the video games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-savage/what-a-great-way-to-see-all-of-our-legacies-live-on-through-the-video/) [Randy Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-savage/) > [Dying legacies are a miserable substitute for living benevolence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/dying-legacies-are-a-miserable-substitute-for-living-benevolence/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [What are the 10 major legacies that European colonization have left behind? Issues of illiteracy. Issues of ill health. Issues of poor infrastructure. Issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-beckles/what-are-the-10-major-legacies-that-european-colonization-have-left/) [Hilary Beckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-beckles/) > [They got legacies that are godly to me. It was an unbelievable honor to have them real interested in doing something with me. Shortly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busta-rhymes/they-got-legacies-that-are-godly-to-me-it-was-an-unbelievable-honor/) [Busta Rhymes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busta-rhymes/) > [“As writers we intend to make a difference, to alter people's lives for the greater good. . .this is why we write, to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-gutkind/as-writers-we-intend-to-make-a-difference-to-alter-people-s-lives-for/) [Lee Gutkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-gutkind/) > [All good men and women must take responsibility to create legacies that will take the next generation to a level we could only imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/all-good-men-and-women-must-take-responsibility-to-create-legacies/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) [Browse all 77 Legacies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legacies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A ruin should always be protected but never repaired - thus may we witness full the lingering legacies of the past.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Scott" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/a-ruin-should-always-be-protected-but-never-repaired-thus-may-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Legacies" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/a-ruin-should-always-be-protected-but-never-repaired-thus-may-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/walter-scott-775_legacies_a-ruin-should-always-be-protected-but-ne_1616181.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/walter-scott-775_legacies_a-ruin-should-always-be-protected-but-ne_1616181.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/walter-scott-775_legacies_a-ruin-should-always-be-protected-but-ne_1616181.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A ruin should always be protected but never repaired - thus may we witness full the lingering legacies of…” — Walter Scott", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Walter Scott", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A ruin should always be protected...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/a-ruin-should-always-be-protected-but-never-repaired-thus-may-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/a-ruin-should-always-be-protected-but-never-repaired-thus-may-we/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```