At the conference at Veszprem in 1985 basic, but fundamental problems of conservation and the training for conservators were discussed. Not only the knowledge about the newest scientific developments, but also the awareness of ethical problems are necessary to answer questions like What is conservation? or How do we know how little to do? . Only the broadly trained, comprehensively minded conservator, with unquestioned high standing in a museum, library or archive, will have his opinion and decisions accepted, especially when they are unpopular.