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.

Summary

This quote suggests that there is a contradiction between the positive aspects of museums as individual institutions (such as their dedication to preservation, education, and truth) and the larger cultural significance reflected in the increasing number of museums. The phrase "imaginative death" implies that the proliferation of museums indicates a lack of creativity or intellectual vitality within society. Instead of fostering originality and diversity, an excess of museums may symbolize a conformity to traditional values, stifling the imaginative growth of the country as a whole.