--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is true that a great statesman is he…" description: "\"“It is true that a great statesman is he who knows when to depart from traditions, as well as when to adhere to them. But it is a great mistake to supp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/john-stuart-mill-477_failure_it-is-true-that-a-great-statesman-is-he_894823.png" --- # It is true that a great statesman is he who knows when to… ![“It is true that a great statesman is he who knows when to depart from traditions, as well as when to adhere to them. But it is a great mistake to suppose that he will do this better for being ignorant of the traditions.” quote by John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/john-stuart-mill-477_failure_it-is-true-that-a-great-statesman-is-he_894823.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/john-stuart-mill-477_failure_it-is-true-that-a-great-statesman-is-he_894823.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/john-stuart-mill-477_failure_it-is-true-that-a-great-statesman-is-he_894823.png) > ““It is true that a great statesman is he who knows when to depart from traditions, as well as when to adhere to them. But it is a great mistake to suppose that he will do this better for being ignorant of the traditions.”” [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A great statesman balances respecting tradition with knowing when to break from it, but ignorance of tradition is a flaw. **In simple terms:** Leaders must know traditions to change them wisely. Key Takeaway Study history before innovating. Themes leadership tradition wisdom Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - government reform - policy making - educational curricula Key Concepts political philosophy change management Questions to Reflect On - When should tradition be challenged? - How does knowledge of tradition guide decisions? A Different Perspective Ignoring tradition can lead to misguided reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) ## Related quotes > [A great statesman is he who knows when to depart from traditions, as well as when to adhere to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/a-great-statesman-is-he-who-knows-when-to-depart-from-traditions-as/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [“Can any man doubt whether it is better to be a great statesman or a common thief?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton/can-any-man-doubt-whether-it-is-better-to-be-a-great-statesman-or-a/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton/) > [The course of a great statesman resembles that of navigable rivers, avoiding immovable obstacles with noble bends of concession, seeking the broad levels of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/the-course-of-a-great-statesman-resembles-that-of-navigable-rivers/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [“A great statesman thinks several times, and acts; a young lady acts, and thinks several times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/a-great-statesman-thinks-several-times-and-acts-a-young-lady-acts-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [A great statesman, like a good housekeeper, knows that cleaning has to be done every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/a-great-statesman-like-a-good-housekeeper-knows-that-cleaning-has-to/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [Richelieu was a great statesman, and like all great statesman, he was a very ruthless man. 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