"We have remarked that one reason offered for being a progressive is that things naturally tend to grow better. But the only real reason for being a progressive is that things naturally tend to grow worse. The corruption in things is not only the best argument for being progressive; it is also the only argument against being conservative. The conservative theory would really be quite sweeping and unanswerable if it were not for this one fact. But all conservatism is based upon the idea that if you leave things alone you leave them as they are. But you do not. If you leave a thing alone you leave it to a torrent of change. If you leave a white post alone it will soon be a black post. If you particularly want it to be white you must be always painting it again; that is, you must be always having a revolution."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Imported from EN Wikiquote
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Orthodoxy_(book)
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Orthodoxy (book)
136 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Orthodoxy (book) →
Related Quotes
"The truth is that there is a real humility typical of our time; but it so happens that it is practically a more poiso…"
"The sages, it is often said, can see no answer to the riddle of religion. But the trouble with our sages is not that …"
"The modern world is not evil; in some ways the modern world is far too good. It is full of wild and wasted virtues. W…"
"Modesty has moved from the organ of ambition. Modesty has settled upon the organ of conviction; where it was never me…"
"There is a thought that stops thought. That is the only thought that ought to be stopped."
"We are on the road to producing a race of men too mentally modest to believe in the multiplication table. We are in d…"
"Humor can get in under the door while seriousness is still fumbling at the handle."
"The phrases of the street are not only forcible but subtle: for a figure of speech can often get into a crack too sma…"
"It is only with one aspect of humility that we are here concerned. Humility was largely meant as a restraint upon the…"
"Religious authority has often, doubtless, been oppressive or unreasonable; just as every legal system (and especially…"