I served for 42 years on the board of trustees of the…
“I served for 42 years on the board of trustees of the largest Presbyterian seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and we had brilliant people - teachers and students both-but they did not come up with many new concepts. They weren't invited to come up with new concepts. Anybody who had come up with a new concept would have been under suspicion for being out of step with the tradition or out of step with the teachings of the church.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Institutional traditions can stifle innovation by labeling new ideas as deviant.
In simple terms: Tradition may block fresh thinking.
Key Takeaway
Encourage safe spaces for novel concepts.
Themes
tradition
innovation
institutional culture
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
analytical
reflective
When to use this quote
- academic settings
- religious organizations
- corporate boards
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
organizational inertia
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions balance tradition with new ideas?
- What mechanisms protect innovators from suspicion?
A Different Perspective
None; risk of alienating members may hinder progress.