"Our admiration of the antique is not admiration of the old, but of the natural"

Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote suggests that our appreciation of the antique is not necessarily a gratitude of the age of the object, however rather an appreciation of the natural qualities of the object. He indicates that the antique is valued for its timelessness and its ability to remain unchanged with time. This remains in contrast to modern-day things, which are typically seen as non reusable and changeable. Emerson's quote recommends that the antique is valued for its authenticity and its capability to remain real to its initial form. This gratitude of the antique is not always a gratitude of the past, but rather an appreciation of the natural qualities of the things. Emerson's quote motivates us to value the antique for its timelessness and its capability to remain the same over time, rather than merely for its age.