--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why is it that, as we grow older, we are…" description: "\"Why is it that, as we grow older, we are so reluctant to change? It is not so much that new ideas are painful, for they are not. It is that old ideas a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/dale-e-turner-2-82161_change_why-is-it-that-as-we-grow-older-we-are-s_1129944.jpg" --- # Why is it that, as we grow older, we are so reluctant to… ![“Why is it that, as we grow older, we are so reluctant to change? It is not so much that new ideas are painful, for they are not. It is that old ideas are seldom entirely false, but have truth, great truth in them. The justification for conservatism is the desire to preserve the truths and…” quote by Dale E Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/dale-e-turner-2-82161_change_why-is-it-that-as-we-grow-older-we-are-s_1129944.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/dale-e-turner-2-82161_change_why-is-it-that-as-we-grow-older-we-are-s_1129944.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/dale-e-turner-2-82161_change_why-is-it-that-as-we-grow-older-we-are-s_1129944.jpg) > “Why is it that, as we grow older, we are so reluctant to change? It is not so much that new ideas are painful, for they are not. It is that old ideas are seldom entirely false, but have truth, great truth in them. The justification for conservatism is the desire to preserve the truths and standards of the past; its dangers, of which we are seldom aware, is that in preserving those values, we may miss the infinitely greater riches that lie in the future.” Dale E Turner ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People resist change because they value the partial truths of old ideas and fear losing familiar standards, even though clinging can block future opportunities. **In simple terms:** Old ideas feel safe, so change is resisted, limiting growth. Key Takeaway Balance respect for past wisdom with openness to new possibilities. Themes conservatism change tradition growth Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical advisory When to use this quote - personal development - organizational reform - policy making - education reform Key Concepts psychology cognitive bias cultural inertia Questions to Reflect On - What truths from the past are worth preserving? - How can we test new ideas without discarding useful old ones? A Different Perspective Change can be disruptive and may erode valuable practices if not carefully managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Conservatism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservatism/) [Elderly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elderly/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Old ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-ideas/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-basis-of-conservatism-is-a-desire-for-less-government/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“About immigrants from Russia: Soviet consciousness overlapped with the new American spirits has formed a specific and divisive culture. This culture is full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-pevsner/about-immigrants-from-russia-soviet-consciousness-overlapped-with-the/) [Leo Pevsner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-pevsner/) > [Orthodoxy: That peculiar condition where the patient can neither eliminate an old idea nor absorb a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/orthodoxy-that-peculiar-condition-where-the-patient-can-neither/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [... we engage in politics because we don't know anything. This is clearly revealed in the way we go about it. 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Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Cities need old buildings so badly it is probably impossible for vigorous streets and districts to grow without them… for really new ideas of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/cities-need-old-buildings-so-badly-it-is-probably-impossible-for/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I don't see Jesus as rescuing the fallen; I see Jesus as expanding the potential of life. The primary reason the old idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-don-t-see-jesus-as-rescuing-the-fallen-i-see-jesus-as-expanding-the/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [Why is it that, when we want to think outside the proverbial box, we often put ourselves in one? We gather our team in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-best/why-is-it-that-when-we-want-to-think-outside-the-proverbial-box-we/) [Charles Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-best/) ## More by Dale E Turner > [In all the work we do, our most valuable asset can be the attitude of self-examination. It is forgivable to make mistakes, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-e-turner-2/in-all-the-work-we-do-our-most-valuable-asset-can-be-the-attitude-of/) Dale E Turner > [The happiness of too many days is often destroyed by trying to accomplish too much in one day. We would do well to follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-e-turner-2/the-happiness-of-too-many-days-is-often-destroyed-by-trying-to/) Dale E Turner Explore all 3 Dale E Turner quotes ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. 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