Kate Williams Quotes

I'm in a museum. I'm a relic.

I do want to keep the Wedgewood Collection in place, intact, and open to the public. Selling it off would be a real tragedy.

Individually, museums are fine institutions, dedicated to the high values of preservation, education and truth; collectively, their growth in numbers points to the imaginative death of this country.

Some of our greatest historical and artistic treasures we place in museums; others, we take for walks.

A collection that embraces the whole world allows you to consider the whole world. That is what an institution such as the British Museum is for.

I have become aware on my travels that when a country loses the connection between its history and its traditional dress, something truly precious is lost.

I love anything to do with history.

I don't know that the United States is 'God's Country,' but the church has been so strong here, and because of its influence, we hold life to be sacred and we believe that individuals have dignity. This is part of our legacy.

The most basic task of any museum must be the protection of works of cultural significance entrusted to its care for the edification and pleasure of future generations.

The Smithsonian museums are among this country's most endearing treasures and I look forward to helping maintain and enhance their coveted works of art.

In these confused times, the role of classical music is at the very core of the struggle to reassert cultural and ethical values that have always characterized our country and for which we have traditionally been honored and respected outside our shores.

As a regent, I hope to bring that important perspective of a typical family visitor in combination with my background as a Member of Congress and a proponent of the Smithsonian's efforts to reach all Americans.

Every museum is full of nice things. That's the opposite of before. It was important things or serious things. Now we have interesting things.

In Britain, the theatre has traditionally been where the public goes to think about its past and debate its future. The formation of the National Theatre, at the Old Vic, near the South Bank, in 1963, institutionalized the symbolic importance of drama by giving it both a building and state funding.

Museums are tombs, and it looks like everything is turning into a museum.

The White House is the people's house. When you do historical restoration, that must be what it is.

We must teach our people the greatness of China's historical culture. In our educational program we must stress Chinese history and geography so that all may know and appreciate China's civilization of five thousand years and the far-flung boundaries of our ancient race. This will engender a greater faith in our own future.

A museum is like a valuing machine. Museums and the industrial society started at the same moment, and they're really tied into each other. They've been all about displaying objects and the kind of wealth that can be derived from objects and promoting that point.

Museums, I love museums.

In museums and palaces we are alternate radicals and conservatives.

A concerted effort to preserve our heritage is a vital link to our cultural, educational, aesthetic, inspirational, and economic legacies - all of the things that quite literally make us who we are.

And one cannot discharge the duty of loyalty without the patient and an open minded study of the institution that marked the country and defined its character.

Stone of Destiny: This Stone belongs to Scotland. It was Stolen by Edward I in 1296. The Church of England should be ashamed that they allowed this piece of stolen property to remain in Westminster Abbey …. It must be returned to the Scottish Parliament which was never closed but only adjourned in 1707.

Politics as well as religion has its superstitions. These gaining strength with time, may, one day, give imaginary value to this relic, for its association with the great Charter of our Independence…. carried in the procession of our nation’s birthday, as the relics of the Saints are in those of the Church.

Awaken a feeling that our ancient buildings are not mere ecclesiastical toys, but sacred monuments of the nation's growth and hope.