Saints are usually killed by their own people.
—Eric Sevareid, 1968
The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution.
—Hannah Arendt, 1970
Not to be a republican at twenty is proof of want of heart; to be one at thirty is proof of want
of head.
—François Guizot, mid-1800 s
28
I never dared to be radical when young
For fear it would make me conservative when old.
—Robert Frost, 1936
***
Most of the change we think we see in life
Is due to truths being in and out of favor.
—Robert Frost, 1914
If it is not necessary to change, it is necessary not to change.
—Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland, 1641
All human situations have their inconveniences. We feel those of the present but neither see
nor feel those of the future, and hence we often make troublesome changes without
amendment, and frequently for the worse.
—Benjamin Franklin, 1780
The art of progress is to preserve order amid change, and to preserve change amid order.
—Alfred North Whitehead, 1929
From barbarism to civilization requires a century; from civilization to barbarism just a day.
—Will Durant, 1957
A society can be progressive only if it conserves its traditions.
—Walter Lippmann, 1955
***
Everyone thinks of changing humanity, but nobody thinks of changing himself.
—Leo Tolstoy, 1900
I never expect to see a perfect work from imperfect man.
—Alexander Hamilton, 1788
28
Later this statement was rephrased, among others, by George Bernard Shaw, Benjamin Disraeli,
and Otto von Bismarck. Perhaps the most popular of its forms is “If you are not a revolutionary at
twenty, you are a rascal; if you are not a conservative at thirty, you are a fool”.
On Society and Solitude, Liberty and Civilization
159
—Eric Sevareid, 1968
The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution.
—Hannah Arendt, 1970
Not to be a republican at twenty is proof of want of heart; to be one at thirty is proof of want
of head.
—François Guizot, mid-1800 s
28
I never dared to be radical when young
For fear it would make me conservative when old.
—Robert Frost, 1936
***
Most of the change we think we see in life
Is due to truths being in and out of favor.
—Robert Frost, 1914
If it is not necessary to change, it is necessary not to change.
—Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland, 1641
All human situations have their inconveniences. We feel those of the present but neither see
nor feel those of the future, and hence we often make troublesome changes without
amendment, and frequently for the worse.
—Benjamin Franklin, 1780
The art of progress is to preserve order amid change, and to preserve change amid order.
—Alfred North Whitehead, 1929
From barbarism to civilization requires a century; from civilization to barbarism just a day.
—Will Durant, 1957
A society can be progressive only if it conserves its traditions.
—Walter Lippmann, 1955
***
Everyone thinks of changing humanity, but nobody thinks of changing himself.
—Leo Tolstoy, 1900
I never expect to see a perfect work from imperfect man.
—Alexander Hamilton, 1788
28
Later this statement was rephrased, among others, by George Bernard Shaw, Benjamin Disraeli,
and Otto von Bismarck. Perhaps the most popular of its forms is “If you are not a revolutionary at
twenty, you are a rascal; if you are not a conservative at thirty, you are a fool”.
On Society and Solitude, Liberty and Civilization
159