Change Quote by James P. Carse
““It is a highly valued function of society to prevent changes in the rules of the many games it embraces... Deviancy, however, is the very essence of culture. Whoever merely follows the script, merely repeating the past, is culturally impoverished. There are variations in the quality of deviation; not all divergence from the past is culturally significant. Any attempt to vary from the past in such a way as to cut the past off, causing it to be forgotten, has little cultural importance. Greater significance attaches to those variations that bring the tradition into view in a new way, allowing the familiar to be seen as unfamiliar, as requiring a new appraisal of all that we have been- and therefore all that we are. Cultural deviation does not return us to the past, but continues what was begun but not finished in the past... Properly speaking, a culture does not have a tradition; it is a tradition.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Religious Imagination, 1982
Cultural change comes from deviation, not strict adherence; meaningful divergence re‑frames tradition, while erasing the past loses significance.
In simple terms: Change is vital; copying the past limits culture.
Key Takeaway
Embrace thoughtful deviation to revitalize tradition.
Themes
culture
tradition
deviation
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- artistic creation
- policy reform
- educational curricula
- social movements
Key Concepts
innovation
historical continuity
Questions to Reflect On
- What deviations have refreshed your community?
- When does change erase important history?
A Different Perspective
Not all deviation is valuable; some may dilute essential heritage.
