Once something is memorable, it's living and you're using it.

The words of Yo-Yo Ma, “Once something is memorable, it’s living and you’re using it. That to me is the foundation of a creative society,” flow like music from the lips of a master who has spent his life searching for harmony between sound, soul, and society. In them lies a profound truth: that creativity is not merely invention, nor is it the pursuit of novelty for its own sake. It is the transformation of memory into life, the act of taking what endures in the heart and using it to shape the present and inspire the future. A creative society is one that does not let memory fade into dust but allows it to breathe, to guide, and to renew.

The origin of this saying comes from Yo-Yo Ma’s lifelong devotion to music and culture. As a cellist who has not only performed the works of Bach and Brahms but also collaborated with musicians from across the globe, Ma has shown that memory is not stagnant. A melody written centuries ago becomes living when played anew. A folk tune passed from generation to generation becomes a bridge between peoples when placed in dialogue with other traditions. In this way, the memorable becomes not a relic of the past, but the foundation upon which the present can build something vibrant and enduring.

History bears witness to this truth. Consider the Renaissance, that great flowering of human creativity. It did not emerge from nothing; it was born from the memory of Greece and Rome, whose philosophies, arts, and sciences were preserved and then revived. The scholars of Florence and Venice did not merely copy the ancients—they used their wisdom, fusing it with their own experience, and in doing so created a new civilization of art, architecture, and thought. Memory became living, and from it arose cathedrals, paintings, and philosophies that still inspire the world. The Renaissance proves Ma’s insight: the memorable, when living, becomes the root of creative societies.

But there is another dimension. What is memorable is not only what is grand, but also what is deeply human. A story told at a fireside, a song sung in hardship, a gesture of kindness remembered in silence—these small acts live on when they are cherished, and they give birth to new acts of courage, hope, and creation. In times of struggle, people turn to the memories that have sustained them: hymns sung by the enslaved, poems recited by prisoners, dances preserved by exiles. These memories are not only recollections—they are weapons of survival, sparks of resilience, seeds of renewal.

The meaning of Yo-Yo Ma’s words also calls us to reflect on the danger of a society without memory. When nothing is preserved, when the memorable is discarded for the trivial, creativity withers. A culture that forgets its stories becomes rootless, easily swayed by emptiness. But a creative society draws from its well of memory, turning what is cherished into living practice—whether in art, governance, or daily life. In this way, creativity is not luxury; it is survival, the means by which societies continually reinvent themselves without losing their soul.

The lesson is clear: if you would live creatively, treasure what is memorable. Hold fast to the experiences, the stories, the songs, and the teachings that move you deeply. Do not let them sit idly as ornaments of the past—use them. Let the wisdom of elders guide your choices; let the beauty of music inspire your work; let the memory of courage embolden your spirit. Creativity is not simply the act of producing something new—it is the act of making memory breathe again.

Practical actions spring forth from this wisdom. Read not only for knowledge but for remembrance—carry with you the words that stir your soul. Listen to music not only as entertainment but as memory alive—whether the ancient hymn or the modern anthem. Create art, write words, build communities that honor what is worth remembering. And in your daily life, when something moves you, do not let it pass into oblivion—mark it, cherish it, live it. For once something is memorable, it has already become part of the living foundation of your own creativity, and of the society you help shape.

Thus let Yo-Yo Ma’s teaching endure: a creative society is one that remembers, and in remembering, breathes life into its memory. The memorable becomes living, the living becomes usable, and what is used becomes the seed of new creation. This is how cultures endure, how civilizations rise, and how souls remain alive in the great flow of time. Treasure what is memorable, for in it lies not only your story, but the heartbeat of all creation.