Over2100

I have a little problem with reading sections... There are some sentences where I know the words but could not figure out the meaning, as in:

You'll have to take us as you find us.

This is no more than a practical coming of cultural age, a belated recognition that fine old buildings frequently offer the most for the money in an assortment of values, including cost, and above all, that new cultural centers do not a culture make.

Both of them are taken from 2007 Preparation Booklet. The phrase "that new cultural centers do not a culture make" makes no sense to me. Can anyone explain what type of phrase it is and what the intended meaning is? If someone can suggest any book or resources that explains the different types of writing styles, I would be highly appreciated.

marvin100

You'll have to take us as you find us.
--this is idiomatic--it means even if we're not what you want or how you want us to be, you have no choice but to accept us (or resign yourself to the fact that this is how we are)

new cultural centers do not a culture make.
--this is a hard one that lots of students miss, esp. int'l kids. It means that you can build new cultural centers, but that doesn't mean you've made culture. In other words, I can build beautiful museums and theaters but culture comes from people and builds up organically over time, so those buildings don't necessarily contribute to it. It's part of a longer defense of salvaging old cultural buildings and refurbishing them rather than building new ones (the argument is that those old theaters are already linked to existing culture).

Over2100

^ Thanks, I get the first one now, but I am not still sure how to treat the second one. Although I get the question correct, I got it through elimination because I just can't understand it. I don't see any verbs, so the phrase doesn't sound complete....

marvin100

The main verb is "make" and it's a sort of "poetic inversion". You can read it as: "New cultural centers do not make a culture."