Difficult Quote by Charles Caleb Colton
“It is not so difficult a task to plant new truths, as to root out old errors; for there is this paradox in men, they run after that which is new, but are prejudiced in favor of that which is old.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Paradox of Progress”, 1820, published in “The British Review”
Colton argues that adopting new ideas is easier than discarding old ones, highlighting human resistance to change despite novelty’s appeal
In simple terms: People cling to old errors even while seeking new truths
Challenge yourself to question entrenched beliefs
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- education reform
- organizational change
- cultural shifts
- policy development
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What old errors persist in your field?
- How can you facilitate letting go of outdated practices?
New ideas can be rejected if they threaten established comfort zones