Antiquity Quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley
“No mistake is more to be deplored than the conception that a system of morals and religion should derive any portion of its authority either from the circumstance of its novelty or its antiquity, that it should be judged excellent, not because it is reasonable or true, but because no person has ever thought of it before, or because it has been thought of from the beginning of time.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: A Defence of Poetry, Percy Bysshe Shelley, 1821
Moral authority should be based on reason and truth, not on novelty or tradition alone.
In simple terms: Authority needs reason, not just age or newness.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize reasoned ethics over tradition.
Themes
ethics
reason
tradition
novelty
authority
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- policy making
- education reform
- personal belief systems
Key Concepts
philosophical critique
moral epistemology
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- What traditions do you accept without questioning?
- How can reason guide ethical decisions today?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑seated traditions can be slow and contested.
