Quote by Walter Lippmann
Almost always tradition is nothing but a record and a machine-made imitation of the habits that our ancestors created. The average conservative is a slave to the most incidental and trivial part of his forefathers glory -- to the archaic formula which happened to express their genius or the eighteenth-century contrivance by which for a time it was served.
Summary
This quote suggests that tradition is often just a repetitive mimicry of the customs established by our ancestors. The average conservative is depicted as being excessively devoted to preserving even the most insignificant elements of their forefathers' achievements, such as outdated formulas or outdated contraptions. The quote implies that blind adherence to tradition can result in stagnation and hinder progress, as it disregards the possibility of new innovations or adaptations that may better serve current needs.
Topics
Conservatism
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