Preservation in Pink readers,
I would like to collect your favorite thoughts, sayings, or quotes relating to historic preservation. Simply, is there one phrase or line that always reminds you of preservation? A wonderful quote, perhaps? A saying that you have? It doesn’t have to be said by a famous author – something you’ve written would be much better!
Spring is taking a while to arrive in the northeast, it’s around midterm time or a semester crunch for many students, it’s almost tax day, it’s raining — whatever your trouble may be right now, a collection of sayings to make a preservationist smile would make an excellent springtime collaboration.
For instance, my favorite quote, one that always makes me smile and one that gets at the essence of preservation is:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
So what about you? What is your inspiration? What do you keep pinned above your computer, on your bulletin board, or at the end of your email? Leave a comment below, please.
Thanks!
P.S. Remember when Izzy was this big? Well, now this kitten, who likes to help me with my work, takes over my workspace. She’s giant!
Preservation in Pink 
How about “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem”…. That quote from the sixties black activist Eldridge Cleaver is my favorite for many different situations, historic preservation included!
Keep up the great work with the blog!
peace,
Ellen Detlefsen, who lives in TWO historic districts (Thousand Island Park NY and Schenley Farms in Pittsburgh)
Ah, another good one and I would imagine always relevant. Public responsibility and accountability is something we need more of – Thanks for sharing!
When all the poems and music have become silent, the architecture will continue speaking.
-Chinese saying from the book Yin Yu Tang Preserving Chinese Vernacular Architecture
This is such a great quote; definitely one of my new favorites! Thank you for sharing. (How’s the rest of the book?)
I almost wrote down a few old quotes by Gary Stanton, but to keep it topical I’ll go with one of my favorite Mark Twain sayings: “Never let schooling interfere with your education.”
Andrew: Gary Stanton quotes are always good and always my favorite. I have a long list of quotes from Stanton. In class I’d just write down funny things he said at the top of my notebook pages and then at the end of senior year I compiled all of them. What are your favorite Stanton-isms? Of course, the classic Mark Twain is great too.
The classics: “Head for the round-house Nelly, they can’t corner you there!” and “Time flies like an arrow but fruit flies like a banana.”
Gary and I got talking about medication after Morton got back from his surgery and there were a couple gems:
“Brown has all the best drugs”
“Dope will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no dope.”
A collection of Stanton-isms would make a great newsletter piece!