happens in history is this: the old man is always wrong; and the young people are always wrong about what is wrong with him. The practical form it takes is this: that, while the old man may stand by some stupid custom, the young man always attacks it with some theory that turns out to be equally stupid.
— G.K. Chesterton
And in the same vain, here's another:
ReplyDeleteThe whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of the Conservatives is to prevent the mistakes from being corrected.
Chesterton liked to cast aspersions on both liberals and conservatives. He was neither, or he was both, God only knows the answer to that one.
Bolingbroke, I think it is well to quote Mr Thomas Jefferson, who provides a little pearl of wisdom here:
ReplyDeleteI never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself.
Perhaps Chesterton simply abides by this little maxim in such politics (not to mention those who are self critical must surely be humble, no?).
I think you are on to something, Mr. Wells. I am myself an independent small c conservative, and find myself in agreement with Jefferson's wise words.
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