"Which painting in the National Gallery would I save if there was a fire? The one nearest the door of course"

George Bernard Shaw's quote is an amusing take on the concept of saving a painting from a fire. He suggests that the painting that must be conserved is the one closest to the door, indicating that the most important thing is to get out of the building securely. This quote likewise implies that the worth of the painting is secondary to the security of the people in the building. Shaw's quote is a pointer that security need to always come first, even when it pertains to important works of art. It likewise serves as a reminder that the worth of a painting is not always figured out by its distance to the door. Rather, the value of a painting is figured out by its artistic merit and historic significance. Shaw's quote is a humorous way of reminding us that safety ought to always precede, even when it pertains to valuable artworks.